 |
NEWS RELEASE
|
Lorus Therapeutics Announces Allowance of United States
Patent for Cancer Drug LOR-2040 in the Treatment of Acute
Myeloid Leukemia
TORONTO, CANADA, May 3, 2011 - Lorus Therapeutics Inc. (TSX: LOR) (“Lorus”), a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the discovery, research and development of pharmaceutical products and technologies for the management of cancer, today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has allowed a new patent for the Company’s lead clinical stage cancer drug LOR-2040 in the treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).
The new U.S. patent covers methods of treating AML patients with LOR-2040 in combination with cytarabine. This is Lorus’ third U.S. patent covering LOR-2040, and its first U.S. patent to specifically protect LOR-2040 for the treatment of relapsed or refractory AML, which is the Company’s lead clinical indication for this drug. Similar patents that protect the treatment of AML with LOR-2040 plus cytarabine have issued in Australia and are pending in Canada, Europe and Japan.
“We’re very pleased to receive this new U.S. patent, which builds on our robust IP portfolio for LOR-2040 in a key market,” said Dr. Aiping Young, Lorus' President and CEO. “LOR-2040 has shown strong clinical efficacy in Phase I and II clinical trials in relapsed and refractory AML. This patent should be useful in our partnership discussions that are aimed towards advancing clinical development of this drug in this indication.”
LOR-2040 recently completed a Phase II trial with LOR-2040 in combination with high dose cytarabine in a Phase II clinical study in patients with relapsed or refractory AML, and is currently being tested as a single agent in a Phase I trial in acute leukemias and high-grade myelodysplastic syndrome. LOR-2040 has also completed a series of U.S. NCI-sponsored clinical studies in AML and solid tumor indications, including prostate cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, and breast cancer.
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. 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. 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 has been explored 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).
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. The Company also has expertise in antimicrobial drug discovery. 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 continue as a going concern, 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 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:
Grace Tse, 416-798-1200 ext. 380; ir@lorusthera.com