CureFAKtor Pharmaceuticals Demonstrates Novel Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) Inhibitor C4 Analogs Inhibited Pancreatic Cancer Tumor Growth as Single Agents

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- CureFAKtor Pharmaceuticals, LLC, a privately-held biopharmaceutical company focused on the research and development of Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) inhibitors for cancer, today presented preclinical research results at the 2011 AACR-EORTC-NCI Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics Conference in San Francisco, California demonstrating that analogs of novel FAK inhibitor CFAK-C4 disrupted FAK-vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3 (FAK-VEGFR3) interaction and inhibited pancreatic cancer tumor growth at low concentrations as single agents. The research was conducted by CureFAKtor scientists at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, New York.

In the poster presentation, Development of Novel FAK Inhibitors Targeting the FAK-VEGFR3 Protein-Protein Interaction Site, CureFAKtor Chief Scientific Officer Dr. William Cance and Senior Scientist Dr. Elena Kurenova reported that oral small molecule FAK inhibitor C4 analogs, C9, C10 and C9A, administered as low dose single agents led to 40 to 60 percent reduction in pancreatic tumor growth in vivo after 30 days of treatment in mouse models. The C4 analogs displayed enhanced potency, minimum toxicity and high specificity for the target site. Abstract C124 will be presented on Tuesday, November 15 from 12:30 to 2:30 pm at West Hall, Level One, Moscone Center West.

"These preclinical results of C4 analogs inhibiting pancreatic tumor growth are very promising and add to our existing C4 data," said H. Shep Wild, President and Chief Executive Officer of CureFAKtor Pharmaceuticals. "We know that FAK protects tumors from chemotherapeutic drugs and radiation, allowing the tumor cells to resist these therapies."

CureFAKtor Pharmaceuticals recently presented preclinical research results at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) 13th World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer in Barcelona, Spain demonstrating that FAK inhibitors targeting the binding site of VEGFR-3 decrease pancreatic tumor blood flow and reduce blood vessel density in vivo. In a poster presentation, CureFAKtor's lead small molecule compound, CFAK-C4, revealed significant reduction in tumor vascular volume and permeability in CFAK-C4-treated pancreatic tumors.

A CureFAKtor study reported earlier pinpointed the site of interaction of VEGFR-3 and FAK to create small molecule drugs capable of disrupting signaling and causing death of many types of cancer cells. CFAK-C4, reduced tumor growth in vivo in human pancreatic cancer mice model by up to 60 percent, and CFAK-C4 combined with chemotherapy drug gemcitabine had a synergistic effect and led to 80 percent tumor growth reduction. Pancreatic cancer is a disease with the lowest survival rate of any cancer and limited patient treatment options.

About Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK)

Focal adhesion Kinase (FAK) is substantially over-expressed in many solid tumors. FAK operates at the contact points between tumor cells and the extra cellular matrix that surrounds them. Studies by CureFAKtor and others found that in this role, FAK is an important facilitator for signals that cause tumor cells to survive, grow, and produce new blood vessels to sustain growth and travel to distant places within the body where they may establish new tumor sites. It also cocoons the tumor cells to protect them from the body's natural signaling mechanisms that would cause deviant tumor cells to be eliminated.

About CureFAKtor Pharmaceuticals

CureFAKtor Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the research and development of Focal Adhesion Kinase therapies to prevent or treat cancer. The Company has identified more than 40 compounds that target specific FAK signaling sites. CureFAKtor's investigational and combination therapy products target pancreatic, breast, colon, melanoma, lung and brain oncology disorders. CureFAKtor research is conducted at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute. CureFAKtor is planning a Phase I clinical study of its lead compound CFAK-C4 in combination with gemcitabine chemotherapy, the current standard of care for pancreatic cancer, in 2012. CureFAKtor received Orphan Drug Designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for CFAK-C4 in combination with gemcitabine for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. Additional information about the company may be found at www.curefaktor.com

Forward-Looking Safe Harbor Statement:

This press release contains forward-looking statements for CureFAKtor Pharmaceuticals that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from the anticipated results and expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from these statements.

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SOURCE CureFAKtor Pharmaceuticals, LLC