Cerulean Presentation Selected as a Top Poster at the International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Oct. 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Cerulean Pharma Inc., a leader in dynamically tumor-targeted nanopharmaceuticals, today announced that a poster on the combinability and efficacy data of Cerulean's Phase 2 candidate, CRLX101, has been selected as one of the top posters at the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics and will be one of four posters featured at a special session on October 22, 2013 at 5:30 p.m. at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, Mass.

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Cerulean Vice President of Research, Scott Eliasof, Ph.D., will present the poster, "Synergistic activity of CRLX101, a nanopharmaceutical in phase 2 clinical trials, with anti-angiogenic therapies mediated through HIF-1a inhibition: a translational research program." Among the findings, Cerulean will present clinical and pre-clinical efficacy data for CRLX101 as a combination therapy with anti-angiogenic therapies for renal cell carcinoma and ovarian cancer.

Anti-angiogenic drugs reduce blood flow to tumors, starving them of oxygen and nutrients. They have been found to have limited success as monotherapies for cancer due to the ensuing induction of hypoxia, which up-regulates HIF-1a and promotes tumor angiogenesis, invasion, metastasis and cancer stem cell formation. Dr. Eliasof will present data from current investigations suggesting that anti-angiogenic drugs may have improved efficacy when combined with CRLX101.

"We are pleased to have been selected by the conference organizers as a feature poster presenter," said Dr. Eliasof. "We are very encouraged by pre-clinical and clinical studies showing synergies between CRLX101 and anti-angiogenic therapies, and we are eager to share the results."

The 2013 International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics is co-hosted by the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC).

Press Conference: Overcoming Resistance and Hard-to-Treat Cancers

Dr. Eliasof will participate in a press conference conducted by the International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics on Monday, October 21 at 9:00 a.m. ET at the Hynes Convention Center.

Scientific Symposium: HIF-1a: Ready for Prime Time?

A symposium on the therapeutic promise of HIF-1a inhibition will be held at Harvard Medical School on October 22, 2013 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Expert speakers include Laura Benjamin, Ph.D., Sarah Conley, Ph.D., Mark Dewhirst, DVM, Ph.D., Amato Giaccia, Ph.D., William Kaelin, M.D., Steve Keefe, M.D., Robert Kerbel, Ph.D., Giovanni Melillo, M.D. and Bob Weinberg, Ph.D. For more information on "HIF-1a: Ready for Prime Time?" please visit www.HIFSymposium.com.

About CRLX101

CRLX101 is an investigational anti-cancer agent that inhibits topoisomerase 1 (topo 1) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1a (HIF-1a). Topo 1 is an essential cell replication enzyme and a commercially validated anti-cancer target. HIF-1a is a master regulator of cancer cell survival mechanisms such as cancer stem cell formation and is upregulated under hypoxic conditions created by traditional cancer therapies, for example anti-angiogenic agents and radiation. To date, HIF-1a has been undruggable. CRLX101 is a dynamically tumor-targeted nanopharmaceutical designed to concentrate in tumors and release its payload, camptothecin, over an extended period of time, prolonging drug exposure at the site of action. CRLX101 has been dosed in more than 200 patients, many for more than six months. Anti-tumor activity (multiple RECIST responses and prolonged stable disease) has been observed in three different tumor types in highly refractory treatment settings, as monotherapy and in combination with Avastin^®. CRLX101 is currently in Phase 2 clinical development. More information on CRLX101 clinical studies can be found at www.clinicaltrials.gov.

About Cerulean Pharma Inc.

Cerulean Pharma Inc. is a clinical-stage company specializing in the development of dynamically tumor-targeted nanopharmaceuticals. Cerulean is applying its proprietary nanopharmaceutical platform to advance a new class of therapeutic agents to address significant unmet medical needs. With an initial focus in oncology, the Company's technology platform can be applied to a wide range of drug molecules, ranging from small molecules to peptides and RNAs. Cerulean is privately held and funded by leading investors, including Polaris Venture Partners, Venrock, Lilly Ventures, Lux Capital, and CVF, LLC. Cerulean is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. For more information, please visit the Company's website at http://www.ceruleanrx.com.

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