Cellceutix Cancer Drug Kevetrin™ Shows No Genotoxicity in Study
BEVERLY, Mass., March 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Cellceutix Corporation (Pink Sheets: CTIX) today announced that it has received more data on Kevetrin™, the Company's flagship compound for the treatment of cancers. Analysis of the latest research shows Kevetrin™ is non-genotoxic, contrary to the majority of currently available chemotherapeutic drugs. Genotoxic drugs affect nucleic acids and alter their function. These drugs may directly bind with DNA or may indirectly lead to DNA damage by affecting enzymes involved in DNA replication. A DNA damaging drug results in rapid phosphorylation of H2A.X at Ser 139 by PI3K-like kinases. Kevetrin™ did not induce phosphorylation of H2A.X protein; whereas, other chemotherapy drugs, such as Adriamycin, did induce the phosphorylation of H2A.X as shown by Western blot assay.
Research data announced earlier this week showed that Kevetrin™ reactivates p53, a key protein which plays a critical role in mediating cellular stress responses such as that brought about by DNA-damage. It is therefore vital in regulating a vast array of proteins involved in cell cycle progression, DNA repair, and apoptosis.
Dr. Krishna Menon, Chief Scientific Officer at Cellceutix, commented, "This is another major breakthrough for Kevetrin. p53 activation is considered among the critical molecular events for cancer therapy. The fact that Kevetrin™ reactivated p53 and resulted in tumor suppression in animals with drug resistant cancers was a milestone in oncology on its own, but with Kevetrin™ now proven to be non-genotoxic, we believe this has set the compound at the forefront of developmental cancer therapies." "
Cellceutix is completing formulation production, scheduled for early March 2011, which would produce Kevetrin™ in the dosage form for planned clinical trials. The Company plans to file an Investigational New Drug (IND) application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in May 2011 with human trials to begin thereafter.
About Cellceutix
Cellceutix Corporation is a preclinical cancer, anti-inflammatory and autism drug developer. Cellceutix owns the rights to eight drug compounds, including Kevetrin, which it is developing as a treatment for certain cancers, KM-133, for the treatment of psoriasis, and KM-391, for the treatment of autism. More information is available on the Cellceutix web site at www.cellceutix.com.
This Press Release contains forward-looking statements that are based on our current expectations, beliefs and assumptions about the industry and markets in which Cellceutix Corporation operates. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause Cellceutix's actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by these statements. Actual results may differ materially from what is expressed in these statements, and no assurance can be given that Cellceutix can successfully implement its core business strategy and improve future earnings.
The factors that may cause Cellceutix's actual results to differ from its forward-looking statements include: Cellceutix's current critical need for additional cash to sustain existing operations and meet ongoing existing obligations and capital requirements; Cellceutix's ability to implement its new product development and commercialization, enter into clinical trials, expand the intellectual property portfolio, and receive regulatory approvals in a timely and cost-effective manner. All forward-looking statements are also expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements included in Cellceutix's SEC filings, including its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and its annual report on Form 10-K.
Kevetrin, KM133, and KM-391 have not been studied in humans at this time. The Company's positive results in animal studies do not necessarily guarantee success in humans, though they may form the basis for beginning Phase 1 trials.
SOURCE Cellceutix Corporation
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