CureFAKtor Pharmaceuticals Demonstrates Novel Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) Inhibitor Y15 Decreased Glioblastoma Tumor Growth & Increased Lung & Colon Cancer Cell Death

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 novel FAK inhibitor CFAK-Y15 decreased glioblastoma brain tumor growth in vivo and increased cell death in vitro and reduced tumor growth in vivo in colon cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. The research was conducted by CureFAKtor scientists at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, New York.

In one of three poster presentations, The small molecule Focal Adhesion Kinase inhibitor, Y15 decreases human glioblastoma cell viability, clonogenicity and tumor growth, CureFAKtor Chief Scientific Officer Dr. William Cance and Senior Scientist Dr. Vita Golubovskaya reported that oral small molecule FAK inhibitor Y15 decreased glioblastoma cells viability and clonogenicity and increased detachment and apoptotic cell death while inhibiting cell invasion in a dose-dependent manner.  In addition, Y15 decreased glioblastoma tumor growth in vivo.

Y15 in combination with chemotherapy drug temozolomide decreased viability and clonogenicity in two different glioblastoma cell lines. In vivo Y15 combined with  temozolomide, demonstrated a statistically  significant 98 percent reduction in glioblastoma tumor volume in mice compared to the untreated group, and the combination therapy significantly reduced tumor volume compared with each drug alone. Abstract B244 will be presented on November 14 from 12:30 to 2:30 pm at West Hall, Level One in Moscone Center West.

In a second poster presentation, CureFAKtor scientists analyzed Y15 in escalating doses as a single agent and in combination with chemotherapy drugs gemcitabine, cisplatin, pemetrexed and paclitaxel for non-small cell lung cancer. Results, as described in the poster titled: Preclinical investigation of the antitumor efficacy in lung cancer of Y15, a novel focal adhesion kinase inhibitor, found that Y15 caused time and dose-dependent death in six out of nine lines of non-small cell lung cancer tested with almost 100 percent cell death at 10 uM dose.  In addition, Y15 enhanced paclitaxel induced cell death.  Mice treated with Y15 at 100 mg/kg with oral dosing showed reduced lung tumor growth compared to control mice.  Abstract C191 will be presented on Tuesday, November 15 from 12:30 to 2:30 pm at West Hall, Level One, Moscone Center West.

A third CureFAKtor poster presentation, A small molecule FAK inhibitor increases the cytotoxicity of 5-fluorouracil, reported that the growth of colon cancer cells treated in combination with Y15 and chemotherapy agent 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) was significantly less than cells treated with either agent alone.  Mice treated with Y15 and 5-FU developed colon cancer tumors that were significantly smaller than single therapy or control groups after 27 days of treatment.  CureFAKtor researchers concluded that FAK inhibitor Y15 increases the cytotoxic activity of 5-FU against colon cancer in vitro.  In vivo, at a dose where neither agent decreases tumor growth, the combination of Y15 and 5-FU significantly inhibits tumor growth.  Abstract C184 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 with Y15 in glioblastoma, lung and colon cancer are very promising and we look forward to advancing this research further," said H. Shep Wild, President and Chief Executive Officer of CureFAKtor Pharmaceuticals.  "CureFAKtor's proprietary FAK technology platform may represent a significant breakthrough in the treatment of most solid tumor cancers in that its unique mechanism of action disrupts the signaling of specific protein to protein binding between FAK and tumors."

Y15 is the second of more than 40 FAK inhibitor compounds in CureFAKtor's proprietary pipeline.  Earlier this year, CureFAKtor received Orphan Drug Designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its lead compound CFAK-C4 in combination with gemcitabine for the treatment of pancreatic cancer, 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. In a similar fashion, FAK protects tumors from chemotherapeutic drugs and radiation, allowing the tumor cells to resist these therapies.

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 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