MetrioPharm extends drug pipeline to cancer therapy

MetrioPharm AG / Miscellaneous

18.03.2010 07:45

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Zurich, 18th March 2010: MetrioPharm AG (WKN: A0YD9Q; ISIN: CH0107076744)
extends the development program for its in-licensed drug Etomoxir and
follow-up substances to cancer therapy.

A recent study from the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and the University of
Texas, Houston, shows compelling evidence for the efficacy of MetrioPharm's
lead compound Etomoxir in the treatment of leukaemia. The study shows that
Etomoxir is capable of inhibiting leukaemia cell growth and make these
tumor cells more susceptible to cytostatic treatment (The Journal of
Clinical Investigation, 2010 Jan, 120(1):142-156). The results from an
animal model show that Etomoxir in combination with a standard
chemotherapeutic therapy (AraC) increases the survival by 67 percent in
comparison to a control group. The study demonstrates the great potential
which lies in the metabolic modulation of tumor cells during cancer
therapy.

Etomoxir and the follow-up compounds in MetrioPharm's pipeline modulate the
energy metabolism of cells by inhibiting the transport protein carnitine
palmitoyltransferase I (CPT I). This prevents the tumor cells from
utilizing fatty acids as a source of energy. The study results from Texas
show that tumor cell survival of leukaemic and possibly also other tumor
cells are critically dependant on an uninhibited fatty-acid metabolism.

In light of these results, MetrioPharm AG has re-evaluated its pipeline of
metabolic modulator drugs (MP2070/Etomoxir). In addition to the existing
development program targeting chronic heart failure, the company has made a
decision to initiate a development program for oncological indications.

'The results from the USA increase the value of our drug pipeline
substantially. So far the therapeutic focus for Etomoxir and the other CPT
I inhibitors in our pipeline was chronic heart failure. With the extension
into cancer therapeutics, MetrioPharm is now moving into a field, where
patients are urgently awaiting better treatment options', commented Dr.
Wolfgang Brysch, president of the board of MetrioPharm AG. 'The efficacy of
CPT I inhibitors for leukaemia treatment shows the great potential which
lies in this class of drugs. Especially with respect to other cancer
treatments, our compounds stand out with excellent tolerability and a high
safety profile. In cancer therapy, apart from an increase in life
expectancy, these factors translate into a higher quality of life for
patients', explained Brysch.


About METRIOPHARM AG:
MetrioPharm AG is a biotechnology company that specializes in the
development and registration of small-molecular drugs which are in an
advanced stage of development. Generally positive proof-of-efficacy data in
humans exist for the company's pipeline products. Lead substances are the
immunomodulator MP1021 for the treatment of severe infectious and
inflammatory diseases and MP2070/Etomoxir for the treatment of chronic
heart failure.


Company Contact:
MetrioPharm AG
Neuendorfstrasse 20B
16761 Hennigsdorf
www.metriopharm.com
T. +49 (0) 3302 20 234 02
F. +49 (0) 3302 20 234 99
info@metriopharm.com

Investor Relations Contact:
GFEI Aktiengesellschaft
Hamburger Allee 26-28
60486 Frankfurt am Main
www.gfei.de
T. +49 (0) 69 743 037 00
F. +49 (0) 69 743 037 22
metriopharm@gfei.de




18.03.2010 Ad hoc announcement, Financial News and Media Release
distributed by DGAP.
Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de

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