Cantex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Announces Poster Presentation at AACR Annual Meeting 2017

WESTON, Fla., April 4, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Cantex Pharmaceuticals Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing proprietary pharmaceuticals that improve the treatment of cancers and other life-threatening disorders, today announced that Francis Ali-Osman, D.Sc., the Margaret Harris and David Silverman Distinguished Professor of Neuro-Oncology at Duke University School of Medicine, will present the results of a study that investigated the anti-tumor efficacy of CX-02, Cantex's proprietary combination of disulfiram + copper, in a series of brain tumor cell lines. The poster, titled Disulfiram-Copper Combination Induces Cell Death Time- and Schedule-dependently in Glioblastoma and Medulloblastoma Cell lines, and enhances Temozolomide Sensitivity of Methylator+ve Glioblastoma Cells in vitro and in vivo, will be presented today at the AACR Annual Meeting 2017 during the "Combination Therapies and Approaches to Sensitize Cancer Cells to Drugs" session, between 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM, ET; Poster Board #23; Abstract #4053.

This study investigated the anti-tumor efficacy of CX-02, Cantex's proprietary combination of disulfiram (DSF) + copper, as well as DSF alone and copper alone in a series of glioblastoma (GBM) cell lines and one medulloblastoma cell line. The researchers examined the dose-, time- and schedule-dependence of the anti-tumor activity and correlated the results with cellular levels of caspase activation, production of reactive oxygen species, and activated MAP kinases. The effects of DSF, copper and CX-02 on temozolomide resistance was also examined in vitro and in vivo in two methylator+ve GBM cell lines. DSF and copper as single agents had little to no toxicity on any of the GBM cell lines. In contrast, all the cell lines were highly sensitive to DSF, when combined with copper. The results demonstrate significant sensitivity of GBM and, for the first time, medulloblastoma, cells to CX-02. In addition, CX-02 increases the sensitivity of temozolomide-resistant, methylator+ve GBM cells to temozolomide. The findings support the investigation of DSF + copper as a treatment strategy for GBM and medulloblastoma.

Stephen Marcus, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Cantex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. commented, "This data adds to evidence found in other pre-clinical studies showing CX-02 to be highly active against glioblastoma, breast cancer, prostate cancer, and other forms of cancer. As Cantex progresses its ongoing Phase II trial in recurrent glioblastoma, we look forward to potentially initiating additional Phase II trials in metastatic prostate cancer and metastatic breast cancer in the second half of 2017."

About Cantex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Cantex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing proprietary pharmaceuticals that improve the treatment of cancers and other life-threatening disorders. One of Cantex's products, CX-02, a proprietary combination of disulfiram + copper, is undergoing a Phase II clinical trial for recurrent glioblastoma. Top-line results of this Phase II trial, as well as the initiation of planned additional Phase II trials in metastatic prostate cancer and breast cancer, are expected in the second half of 2017. Cantex's other clinical stage product, CX-01, is being developed for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and other blood disorders. A randomized Phase IIB trial of CX-01 in newly diagnosed AML is currently enrolling patients. Separately, Cantex plans to initiate Phase II trials of CX-01 in 2017 in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome, and in patients with severe traumatic brain injury.

For more information, please visit www.cantex.com.

SOURCE Cantex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.