GPC Biotech AG (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: GPC, NASDAQ: GPCB) today
reported that pre-clinical data on RGB-286638, the Company’s
multi-targeted protein kinase inhibitor, were presented at the 20th
EORTC-NCI-AACR Symposium: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics in
Geneva, Switzerland in a poster entitled, “RGB-286638
is a novel multi-targeted protein kinase inhibitor with activity in
chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) models,”
(Abstract #578). The data presented demonstrate that the RGB-286638
small molecule has potent activity against chronic myeloid leukemia
(CML) in in vivo models that are resistant to imatinib (Gleevec®)
and to dasatinib (Sprycel®),
the current standards of care for treating this form of cancer.
Additionally, RGB-286638 has been shown in vitro to be active
against a number of families of protein kinases that are important for
the proliferation of cancer cells. RGB-286638 is expected to enter Phase
1 clinical testing this year.
“The data presented today support the
potential utility of RGB-286638 against some hematological malignancies,”
said Martine George, M.D., Senior Vice President, Drug Development and
Chief Medical Officer of GPC Biotech. “We are
particularly excited to see the strong effect that RGB-286638 has
against Gleevec- or Sprycel-resistant tumor cells. These data are
supportive of our clinical plans for RGB-286638: We expect to initiate a
Phase 1 trial in solid tumors in the near future, followed by a study in
hematological tumors, including CML, during 2009.”
About RGB-286638
RGB-286638 is a multi-targeted protein kinase inhibitor. The RGB-286638
compound has been shown in cancer cells to lead to the inhibition of
cell cycle progression, the process that controls cell division and
ensures the accurate duplication of genetic material, by targeting all
relevant cyclin-dependent kinases, which are proteins involved in
regulating the cell cycle. RGB-286638 has also been shown to induce
apoptosis (programmed cell death) and to inhibit other major protein
kinases that are important for the proliferation of cancer cells. In a
range of pre-clinical models of solid and hematological tumors,
RGB-286638 treatment results in tumor regression and increased survival.
RGB-286638 is expected to enter human clinical trials in 2008.
GPC Biotech
GPC Biotech AG is a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company focused on
anticancer drugs. GPC Biotech's lead product candidate is satraplatin,
an oral platinum compound.