Enzo Announces Issuance of U.S. Patent for Methods of Treating Liver Cancer Using Proprietary Compound SK1-I
23 June 2020 - 10:30PM
Enzo Biochem, Inc. (NYSE: ENZ), a leading biosciences and
diagnostics company, today announced it has received a patent for
the treatment of liver cancer, U.S. Patent No. 10,675,255 entitled
Sphingosine Pathway Modulating Compounds for the Treatment of
Cancers. Enzo’s patent is directed to methods for treating
hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common human liver cancer,
using the company’s proprietary compound SK1-I and has a term
extending into June 2038. Foreign patent applications in the same
patent family are currently pending.
Elazar Rabbani, Ph.D., CEO of Enzo Biochem, Inc. commented:
“This new application of our proprietary compound is an important
step in our program to advance SK1-I as a potential treatment for
liver cancer and other cancers. Both our internal studies and the
work of others have shown that SK1-I can not only inhibit the
growth of various types of cancer cells but can also modulate the
activity of immune cells. Given this, we also continue to explore
avenues for developing SK1-I as a potential treatment for COVID-19,
the disease caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-Cov-2.”
Sphingosine kinase 1 is a key enzyme in the Sphingosine
cell-signaling pathway that has been implicated in tumor cell
growth and pathological inflammation. The enzyme acts by
phosphorylating the cellular lipid Sphingosine to form Sphingosine
1-Phosphate (S1P), an important biological mediator of cell
proliferation and immune function. SK1-I is a small molecule that
specifically inhibits Sphingosine kinase 1.
HCC represents more than 90% of primary human liver cancers and
a significant unmet medical need in the United States and globally.
In the U.S., the incidence of liver cancer has been rising for many
years with 33,000 new cases annually and 27,000 deaths from the
disease. Currently, about 26% of liver cancer patients will live
five years after diagnosis if the cancer has not spread beyond the
liver, but only 4% will live as long if the cancer has spread from
the liver to other parts of the body.
About Enzo Biochem Enzo
Biochem is a pioneer in molecular diagnostics, leading the
convergence of clinical laboratories, life sciences and
intellectual property through the development of unique diagnostic
platform technologies that provide numerous advantages over
previous standards. A global company, Enzo Biochem utilizes
cross-functional teams to develop and deploy products, systems and
services that meet the ever-changing and rapidly growing needs of
health care today and into the future. Underpinning Enzo Biochem’s
products and technologies is a broad and deep intellectual property
portfolio, with patent coverage across a number of key enabling
technologies.
Forward-Looking Statements
Except for historical information, the matters
discussed in this release may be considered "forward-looking"
statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended. Such statements include declarations regarding
the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company and its
management, including those related to cash flow, gross margins,
revenues, and expenses which are dependent on a number of factors
outside of the control of the Company including, inter alia, the
markets for the Company’s products and services, costs of goods and
services, other expenses, government regulations, litigation, and
general business conditions. See Risk Factors in the Company’s Form
10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2019. Investors are
cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not
guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks and
uncertainties that could materially affect actual results. The
Company disclaims any obligations to update any forward-looking
statement as a result of developments occurring after the date of
this release.
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Contact:
For Enzo Biochem, Inc.
David Bench, CFO 212-583-0100 dbench@enzo.com
Investors/Media:
Melanie SolomonThe Blueshirt
Group415-217-4964melanie@blueshirtgroup.com
Steve AnrederAnreder &
Company212-532-3232Steven.anreder@anreder.com
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