Astex Pharmaceuticals Presents Final Results of Phase 2 Study of SGI-110 in Treatment Naïve Elderly Acute Myeloid Leukemia at the European Hematology Association Meeting

Dublin, CA, USA and Cambridge, UK, June 16, 2014 – Astex Pharmaceuticals, a pharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery and development of novel small molecule therapeutics, presented the final results of a Phase 2 study of SGI-110, a novel hypomethylating agent in elderly Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) in an oral session on June 14 at the European Hematology Association meeting held in Milan, Italy (June 12-15).

The results focused on clinical responses as well as safety of 2 doses of SGI-110 (60 and 90 mg/m2 /d) given as a subcutaneous injection daily x5 every 28 days in treatment naïve elderly AML patients not suitable for intensive chemotherapy enrolled in study SGI-110-01.

The study enrolled and treated 51 patients. The primary endpoint of Overall Complete Remission (CR or CR with incomplete normal count recovery (CRi)) was achieved in 28 of 51 patients (55%). The CR rate was achieved in 17 of 51 patients (33%). There were no major differences between the clinical responses and safety of the two doses of SGI-110. The most common Grade ≥ 3 Adverse Events were the expected and reversible myelosuppression adverse events: febrile neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and anemia. All patients achieved potent DNA demethylation, and patients with CR or CRi had better Overall Survival than non-responders.

“We are pleased with the promising clinical activity and safety profile of SGI-110 as a next generation hypomethylating agent” said Mohammad Azab, MD, President and Chief Medical Officer of Astex Pharmaceuticals, Dublin, CA, USA. “These results support the Phase 3 development of SGI-110 in treatment naive elderly AML not suitable for intensive chemotherapy.”

About SGI-110:

SGI-110 is a novel small molecule, DNA-hypomethylating agent administered as a single small volume subcutaneous injection. SGI-110 demonstrated activity in restoring silenced tumor suppressor gene expression in cancer cells by reversal of DNA methylation and inducing responses in previously treated MDS and AML patients. SGI-110 is wholly owned by Astex Pharmaceuticals.

About the SGI-110 study in MDS and AML patients (Study SGI-110-01):

The SGI-110-01 trial is a randomized Phase 1/2 study in patients with Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) and AML. The trial completed its Phase 1 dose escalation segment showing extended half-life and prolonged exposure window to the active ingredient decitabine compared to decitabine IV as well as potent DNA demethylation and multiple clinical responses in heavily pretreated MDS and AML patients.

This study is currently in a Phase 2 dose expansion segment with several cohorts including refractory/relapsed AML and treatment naïve elderly AML ineligible for intensive chemotherapy treated with dailyx5 and dailyx10 regimens. Additional information about the study can be found online at http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01261312.

About Astex Pharmaceuticals Astex Pharmaceuticals is dedicated to the discovery and development of novel small molecule therapeutics with a focus on oncology. Astex is developing a proprietary pipeline of novel therapies and has a number of partnered products being developed under collaborations with leading pharmaceutical companies. Astex is a subsidiary of Otsuka America, Inc. (OAI), a holding company established in the U.S. in 1989. OAI is wholly owned by Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. The Otsuka Group employs approximately 42,000 people globally, and its products are available in more than 80 countries worldwide. Otsuka welcomes you to visit its global website at https://www.otsuka.co.jp/en.

For more information about Astex Pharmaceuticals, please visit https://stagin.astx.co.uk.

CONTACT:

Jeremy Carmichael
Senior Director of Business Development Astex Pharmaceuticals
436 Cambridge Science Park
Milton Road
Cambridge CB4 0QA
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 1223 226200
Email:

Peggy Bickerton
Corporate Communications Astex Pharmaceuticals
4140 Dublin Blvd.
Suite 200
Dublin,CA 94568
USA Tel: +1 (925) 560-2803
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