4SC AG
4SC AG: Overall survival benefit for resminostat in first-line liver cancer study subgroup
DGAP-News: 4SC AG / Key word(s): Study 4SC AG: Overall survival benefit for resminostat in first-line liver cancer study subgroup
Planegg-Martinsried, Germany, 24 January 2017 – 4SC AG (4SC, FSE Prime “As reported earlier, subgroup analysis of the Phase II study revealed that addition of resminostat to the standard of care sorafenib resulted in a prolonged time until disease progression and a substantial benefit in median overall survival in patients with a normal to high platelet count at study entry. At median, patients in this subgroup treated with resminostat and sorafenib survived for 13.7 months compared to 5.1 months in patients treated with sorafenib alone,” explains Frank Hermann, M.D., Chief Development Officer of 4SC. “For these subgroup patients with higher baseline platelet levels, the risk of death during the study was reduced by approximately 40%, which represents a substantial benefit for patients with advanced HCC who have very few therapeutic alternatives.” What are platelets and what’s their role in liver cancer? Platelets, also called thrombocytes, are a component of our blood whose main function is to stop bleeding. “There is increasing evidence, provided by both basic and translational research, that platelets and platelet-derived factors may promote the development and diffusion of HCC. Moreover, clinical studies have shown that increased platelet counts may be associated with a more aggressive form of HCC and poorer prognosis,” explains Prof. Edoardo Giannini, Associate Professor at the Gastroenterology Unit in the Department of Internal Medicine of the University of Genoa, Italy, and participant at the global HCC advisory board meeting of 4SC and Yakult Honsha. Further clinical development of resminostat in advanced liver cancer “These are the first clinical data obtained in a randomized, controlled Phase II trial conducted in patients with advanced HCC indicating that platelet count might serve as a potentially relevant selection criterion. These interesting results are worthy of further exploration in a pivotal Phase III study,” continues Prof. Giannini. Jason Loveridge, Ph.D., CEO of 4SC, concludes: “Although baseline platelet count is not yet an established selection criterion for patients in oncology and particularly in HCC, we have received a lot of positive feedback from leading experts in the HCC field. particularly since the patients where we see most benefit, are those with more advanced disease and with poorer prognosis. The increased overall survival benefit from the combination of resminostat and sorafenib is highly encouraging and certainly worth investigating in a further clinical study. To this end we are currently discussing our plans for the further development of resminostat with Yakult Honsha.” – Press release ends –
Related articles 16 December 2016, First patient enrolled in pivotal RESMAIN study of resminostat in CTCL 5 October 2016, Subgroup analysis suggests survival benefit in patients with advanced liver cancer treated with resminostat 16 June 2016, Resminostat boosts cancer immunotherapy Further information About Liver Cancer (Hepatocellular Carcinoma, HCC) According to the American Cancer Society liver cancer is one of the most common types of cancer worldwide with more than 700,000 new cases in 2016. Liver cancer still is a leading cause of cancer deaths, accounting for more than 600,000 deaths worldwide each year. In the past three decades alone, the number of new cases has almost doubled and is still increasing. Liver cancer often remains undetected until it reaches an advanced stage, resulting in a slim chance of recovery. Currently, the tyrosine kinase inhibitor sorafenib is the only approved drug-based first-line therapy for patients with advanced liver cancer and standard of care. About Resminostat Resminostat is an orally administered epigenetic anti-cancer compound. As an inhibitor of HDAC (histone deacetylase) that targets class I, IIB, and IV HDACs, resminostat can reactivate silenced genes in cancer cells or downregulate abnormally expressed genes. In addition to its direct effects, resminostat enhances the body’s own immune response to cancer. Resminostat is in development both as monotherapy and in combination with other drugs. The compound has been shown to be well tolerated in Phase I studies, and its use in the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, Hodgkin’s lymphoma and liver, lung, colon, pancreatic and biliary tract cancers is being or was investigated in further clinical studies. Initial positive efficacy results for resminostat monotherapy have already been observed in patients with Hodgkin’s lymphoma and in combination with the standard medication sorafenib in selected patients with advanced liver cancer. About epigenetic cancer therapy Epigenetic changes modify the activity of certain genes, but not the genetic code of DNA itself, causing activation or silencing of genes. This mechanism enables differentiated cells such as those in the lungs, nerves or skin to serve very different functions despite containing identical genetic code. Epigenetic alterations are as important as genetic mutations in a cell’s transformation to cancer; however, their manipulation holds great promise for cancer therapy. Epigenetic compounds such as 4SC’s resminostat and 4SC-202 may convert these malignant epigenetic alterations back to a normal or non-malignant state. For example, treatment with epigenetic cancer compounds interrupts or combats the mechanism that is responsible for the onset of cancer, makes cancer cells visible to the body’s own immune system or renders them more responsive to immuno-oncological treatment. Epigenetic therapeutics is considered as a future growth market in the field of oncology based on its significant promise as both a monotherapy and in combined approaches with immuno-oncology drugs and other therapeutic agents. In an October 2015 report by business information publisher Grand View Research, the worldwide epigenetics market was projected to generate revenues of US-$16 billion in 2022, up from US-$ 4 billion in 2014. About 4SC 4SC AG (4SC, FSE Prime Standard: VSC, www.4sc.com) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of small-molecule drugs focused on epigenetic mechanisms of action for the treatment of cancers with high unmet medical needs. These drugs are intended to provide innovative treatment options for cancer patients that are more tolerable and efficacious than existing therapies, provide a better quality of life and offer increased life expectancy. The Company’s pipeline comprises promising products that are in various stages of clinical development. 4SC’s aim is to generate future growth and enhance its enterprise value by entering into partnerships with pharmaceutical and biotech companies. Founded in 1997, 4SC had 47 employees as of 30 September 2016. 4SC has been listed on the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange since December 2005. Forward-looking information Information set forth in this press release contains forward-looking statements, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements contained herein represent the judgement of 4SC as of the date of this press release. Such forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond 4SC’s control, and which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements. 4SC expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release any updates or revisions to any such statements to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.
4SC Corporate Communications & Investor Relations Dr Anna Niedl, anna.niedl@4sc.com, +49 89 700763-66 The Ruth Group Dr Robert Flamm, rflamm@theruthgroup.com, +1 646 536 7017 MC Services Katja Arnold, katja.arnold@mc-services.eu, +49 89 210228-40 Contact: Dr. Anna Niedl 4SC AG Fraunhoferstr. 22 82152 Planegg-Martinsried Germany Office: +49 89 700763-66 Mobile: +49 176 170079-66 anna.niedl@4sc.com
24.01.2017 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP – a service of EQS Group AG. |
Language: | English |
Company: | 4SC AG |
Fraunhoferstr. 22 | |
82152 Planegg-Martinsried | |
Germany | |
Phone: | +49 89 700763-0 |
Fax: | +49 89 700763-29 |
E-mail: | public@4sc.com |
Internet: | www.4sc.com |
ISIN: | DE000A14KL72 |
WKN: | A14KL7 |
Listed: | Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Munich, Stuttgart, Tradegate Exchange |
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