Sunesis Commences Phase I Clinical Trial of SNS-032 for Cancer
01 February 2006 - 12:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Jan. 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
Sunesis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that patient
treatment has commenced in a Phase I clinical trial of SNS-032.
SNS-032 is a novel small molecule inhibitor of cyclin-dependent
kinases (CDK) 2, 7 and 9. This is the company's second anti-cancer
cell-cycle inhibitor to enter clinical trials. The trial is an
open-label, multi-center study designed to examine the safety and
preliminary anti-tumor activity of SNS-032 and will enroll patients
with advanced solid tumor cancers. Once a maximum-tolerated dose
has been identified, enrollment will expand by 24 patients with
lung cancer, breast cancer or melanoma. Patients will be enrolled
at three centers in the United States. "With the commencement of
this trial, Sunesis continues to advance its portfolio of
distinctive cell-cycle inhibitors with two product candidates now
in clinical trials," said Dan Swisher, Chief Executive Officer of
Sunesis. "In preclinical studies, SNS-032 demonstrated anti-tumor
activity in multiple solid and hematological tumor models. We
believe that CDKs 2, 7 and 9 are promising therapeutic targets for
cancer therapy and we are hopeful that SNS- 032 will prove to be a
safe an efficacious novel cancer treatment." About SNS-032 SNS-032
is a novel aminothiazole small molecule cell-cycle modulator that
targets CDK2, CDK7 and CDK9, thus halting the uncontrolled cell
division characteristic of cancer. Preclinical studies have shown
that SNS-032 induces cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis (or cell
death) across multiple cell lines. SNS-032 is a small molecule that
is currently administered by IV infusion, but also has the
potential to be developed as an oral formulation. In addition, the
compound has the promise to be used as either a single agent or as
part of a combination drug regimen. SNS-032 was in-licensed from
Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) in April 2005. About Sunesis' Oncology
Programs Sunesis has built a portfolio of preclinical- and
development-stage product candidates in oncology focused on novel
pathways and targets, including inhibiting cell-cycle and survival
signaling. In addition to SNS- 032, Sunesis is currently conducting
Phase II and Phase I clinical trials for its lead compound,
SNS-595, a cell-cycle modulator that acts on proliferating cancer
cells by inducing cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis. In addition,
Sunesis' Aurora kinase inhibitor program is undergoing preclinical
evaluation and, in cooperation with Biogen Idec, Sunesis is
developing novel small molecule inhibitors of Raf kinase and other
oncology kinases. About Sunesis Pharmaceuticals Sunesis is a
clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery,
development and commercialization of small molecule therapeutics
for oncology, inflammatory diseases and other unmet medical needs.
Sunesis has built a product candidate portfolio through internal
discovery and acquisition of novel cancer therapeutics. Sunesis is
advancing its product candidates through in-house research and
development efforts and strategic collaborations with leading
pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies. For further
information, visit http://www.sunesis.com/. Forward-Looking
Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements
concerning Sunesis Pharmaceuticals' and its product development
plans, including plans to commence and conduct preclinical studies
and clinical trials. Sunesis may not be successful in such plans.
Statements in this press release regarding Sunesis Pharmaceuticals'
business which are not historical facts are "forward-looking
statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking
statements can be identified by, among other things, the use of
forward-looking language, such as "anticipate," "believe," "could,"
"estimate," "expect," "future," "intends," "may," "plans,"
"should," "seeks," "potential," "will," or the negative of those
terms, or other variations of those terms of comparable language,
or by discussions of strategy or intentions. A number of important
factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those
projected or suggested in the forward-looking statements including,
but not limited to, the ability of Sunesis to: (i) discover product
candidates, (ii) successfully conduct preclinical studies and
clinical trials of product candidates, (iii) obtain regulatory
approval of any product candidates and (iv) obtain and enforce
intellectual property rights. These statements speak only as of the
date of this press release and the company assumes no obligation or
responsibility to update or revise the statements. DATASOURCE:
Sunesis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. CONTACT: Eric Bjerkholt, CFO, Sunesis
Pharmaceuticals, Inc., +1-650-266-3717; or media and investors,
Karen L. Bergman, +1-650-575-1509, or Michelle Coral,
+1-415-794-8662, both of BCC Partners for Sunesis Pharmaceuticals,
Inc. Web site: http://www.sunesis.com/
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