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September 6, 2005
Kinex Pharmaceuticals Selects Lead Drug Candidate for Clinical Development in Oncology
Buffalo, NY, September 6, 2005 – Kinex Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company developing small molecule drugs for the treatment of cancer, announced today that KX2-377 has been selected as a lead drug candidate for clinical development. The compound—which was discovered based upon the company’s proprietary technology platform—is a potent, orally available, and highly selective small molecule that inhibits Src kinase phosphorylation. Src kinase plays a key role in tumor growth and metastasis. KX2-377 is unique in that it was designed to target the substrate pocket of Src kinase instead of the ATP pocket, reported by others.
“This compound—KX2-377—has demonstrated an excellent pharmacokinetic profile. We have encountered no safety problems thus far, and its unique properties provide opportunities for both anticancer treatment and maintenance therapy,” said Dr. Allen Barnett, Chief Executive Officer of Kinex Pharmaceuticals. Barnett added, “We are extremely enthusiastic about the progress we are making to advance this promising new class of drug candidates into the clinic. The combination of our exclusive platform technology and demonstrated drug discovery and development experience has allowed us to move both the technology and lead drug discovery/development forward in a highly efficient manner. As a result, we believe Kinex will be first in class and first to market with this next-generation anti-cancer drug that targets the substrate pocket of Src kinase.”
The Company is preparing for an Investigational New Drug (IND) application and planning for submission to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) during the second quarter of 2006.
About Kinex Pharmaceuticals, LLC
Kinex Pharmaceuticals is a privately held biopharmaceutical company based in Buffalo, New York. The Company’s platform technology has generated kinase inhibitors that do not compete with ATP and are projected to produce drugs that are highly selective. Kinex is pursuing additional indications for its compounds including osteoporosis, hearing loss, ophthalmic disease and myocardial ischemia. Kinex is also applying their proprietary technology platform to other kinase and phosphatase targets of therapeutic importance.
For additional information, contact:
Allen Barnett, Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer
Kinex Pharmaceuticals, LLC
1207 Delaware Avenue
Buffalo, New York 14209
716.332.6107