Exhibit
99.1
 |
NEWS
RELEASE
|
Lorus Therapeutics Announces
Presentation of New Supportive Data for
LOR-2040 in Acute Myeloid
Leukemia
-
Ohio State University Researchers Present Results from Clinical Sample Analysis
at
the
100th Annual
Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) -
TORONTO, CANADA, APRIL 22, 2009 -
Lorus Therapeutics Inc. (TSX: LOR) (“Lorus”), a biopharmaceutical company
specializing in the research and development of pharmaceutical products and
technologies for the management of cancer, today announced the presentation by
investigators at Ohio State University (OSU) of results for Lorus’ lead clinical
drug candidate LOR-2040, formerly known as GTI-2040, at the 100th Annual
Meeting of the AACR in Denver, CO, April 18-22, 2009.
The
presentation entitled “In vitro-in vivo pharmacodynamic analysis of GTI-2040
combined with Ara-C in acute myeloid leukemia” was presented
today. The abstract for the presentation (Abstract Number: 5447) is
available online on the AACR website (http://www.aacr.org).
In
the presentation the study investigators reported their findings on the
pharmacodynamics (drug effects) of LOR-2040 in combination with the chemotherapy
drug Ara-C in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). The studies
were done to provide additional support for this drug combination in the ongoing
clinical program with R2-targeted drug LOR-2040, and included analysis of
samples from relapsed/refractory AML patients treated with LOR-2040 and high
dose Ara-C from a recently completed Phase Ib trial.
The
results of the pharmacodynamic studies showed that R2 levels in leukemia cells
were decreased following treatment with LOR-2040 alone or in combination with
Ara-C that resulted in a significant decrease in levels of intracellular dNTPs,
which are the products of R2 activity and the necessary building blocks for the
synthesis of DNA and cell growth. Furthermore, analysis of the
bone marrow samples from AML patients treated with LOR-2040 and high-dose Ara-C
showed that bone marrow samples with reduced levels of dNTPs had higher amounts
of Ara-CTP, which is the cytotoxic product of Ara-C.
Based
on their findings, the OSU investigators concluded that correlation of
pharmacodynamic measures of LOR-2040 and Ara-C may be useful in assessing
overall clinical response in AML.
“Our
clinical strategy for AML is to combine Ara-C activity with R2 targeting by
LOR-2040 to deliver a one-two punch to the cancer”, said Dr. Aiping Young,
Lorus’ President and CEO. “We are pleased that the study results by
our OSU collaborators support this combination strategy. We believe
these findings help to strengthen our clinical program with LOR-2040 in
relapsed/refractory AML”.
About
LOR-2040
LOR-2040
is an RNA-targeted drug that specifically targets the R2 component of
ribonucleotide reductase, which is required for DNA synthesis and cell
proliferation. Through downregulation of R2, LOR-2040 has demonstrated strong
antitumor and antimetastatic activity in a variety of tumor types in both in vitro and in vivo models and is under
study in a multiple Phase I/II clinical program, including an advanced Phase II
clinical trial with LOR-2040 and high dose Ara-C (HiDAC) in refractory and
relapsed Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). The R2 target has been described as a
malignant determinant that is elevated in a wide range of tumor types, which can
cooperate with a variety of cellular cancer causing genes known as oncogenes to
enhance tumor growth and metastatic potential.
About
Lorus
Lorus
is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the research and development of novel
therapeutics in cancer. Lorus’ goal is to capitalize on its research,
preclinical, clinical and regulatory expertise by developing new drug candidates
that can be used, either alone, or in combination with other drugs, to
successfully manage cancer. Through its own discovery efforts and an acquisition
and in-licensing program, Lorus is building a portfolio of promising anticancer
drugs. Lorus Therapeutics Inc. is listed on the Toronto Stock
Exchange under the symbol LOR.
Forward
Looking Statements
This
press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of
Canadian and U.S. securities laws. Such statements include, but are not limited
to, statements relating to: our research program plans, our plans to conduct
clinical trials, the successful and timely completion of clinical studies and
the regulatory approval process, our ability to fund future research, our plans
to obtain partners to assist in the further development of our product
candidates, the establishment of corporate alliances, the Company’s plans,
objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements including words
such as “continue”, “believe”, “plan”, “expect”, “intend”, “will”, “should”,
“may”, and other similar expressions. Such statements reflect our current views
with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties and are
necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while
considered reasonable by us are inherently subject to significant business,
economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies.
Many factors could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be
materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements that
may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, among
others: our ability to continue as a going concern, our ability to repay or
refinance the convertible debentures by October 2009; our ability to obtain the
capital required for research and operations, the inherent risks in early stage
drug development including demonstrating efficacy, development time/cost and the
regulatory approval process; the progress of our clinical trials; our ability to
find and enter into agreements with potential partners; our ability to attract
and retain key personnel; changing market conditions; and other risks detailed
from time-to-time in our ongoing quarterly filings, annual information forms,
annual reports and annual filings with Canadian securities regulators and the
United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
Should
one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should the
assumptions set out in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in our Annual
Information Form underlying those forward-looking statements prove incorrect,
actual results may vary materially from those described herein. These
forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and we
do not intend, and do not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking
statements, except as required by law. We cannot assure you that such statements
will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ
materially from those anticipated in such statements. Investors are cautioned
that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and
accordingly investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking
statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein.
Lorus
Therapeutics Inc.’s recent press releases are available through the Company’s
website at www.lorusthera.com. For Lorus' regulatory filings on SEDAR, please go
to www.Sedar.com. For SEDAR filings prior to July 10, 2007 you will
find these under the company profile for Global Summit Real Estate Inc. (Old
Lorus).
Enquiries:
For
further information, please contact:
Lorus
Therapeutics Inc.
Dr.
Saeid Babaei, 416-798-1200 ext. 490; ir@lorusthera.com