Cylene Builds on Success, Presents Second CK2 Inhibitor at AACR Meeting

SAN DIEGO, April 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Cylene Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is developing a second generation compound, building on the success of its first-in-class CK2 inhibitor, CX-4945, the company announced today. Dr. Denis Drygin, Cylene's VP of Biology, will profile the small molecule CK2 inhibitor, CX-8184, at the 2012 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting, held from March 31 to April 4 in Chicago, IL. The presentation will highlight the agent's potent and sustained suppression of protein kinase CK2, its impact on multiple key pathways and the potential of CK2 inhibitors in the combination treatment of cancer.

CK2 is a newly validated cancer target ideally suited for rational drug combination therapy as it is overexpressed in tumors and drives multiple oncogenic pathways. CX-8184 is an orally delivered small molecule that has a distinct chemical and pharmaceutical profile and produces sustained inhibition of multiple CK2 dependent pathways. A poster entitled "Discovery and Biological Characterization of CX-8184, A Potent Inhibitor of Protein Kinase CK2", will be presented on Tuesday, April 3 from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM in McCormick Place West (Hall F), Poster Board 30, Section 29.

Cylene pioneered CK2 in the clinic with CX-4945, proving that single agent treatment with an oral inhibitor is safe and effective, resulting in inhibition of CK2 and CK2-driven pathways, inhibition of tumor-based markers and reductions in tumor size. "We are delighted to showcase the promising preclinical profile of our second generation inhibitor, CX-8184, demonstrating our commitment to exploiting the CK2 target for cancer combination therapy," commented William G. Rice, Ph.D., President and CEO of Cylene Pharmaceuticals. "As the limitations of suppressing a single target are becoming clear, the need for agents that hit multiple key cancer processes becomes ever more pressing.  Cylene's CK2 platform is exploiting the unique properties of CK2 as a drug target to deliver agents that can play a major role in future cancer combination strategies."

About CK2

Protein kinase CK2 has emerged as a validated drug target for cancer therapy due to its dysregulation and overexpression in tumors, and its regulatory roles in multiple oncogenic pathways including EGFR-regulated pathways, Akt and WNT signaling cascades, NF-kB transcription, angiogenesis, Hsp90 chaperone pathway and the DNA damage response. CK2 activity and levels are elevated in many cancers of diverse genetic background and this overexpression leads to a dependence on its continued expression and activity. Because CK2 is essential for cancer cell survival, is up-regulated in many different cancers and is not mutated, it is a cancer target ideally suited for the development of a dynamic combination agent.  Cylene's leadership in exploiting CK2 pathways for rational combination therapies identifies and enables numerous drug combinations for improved treatment outcomes.

About Cylene Pharmaceuticals

Cylene Pharmaceuticals is a clinical stage private company developing small molecule drugs against newly validated cancer targets.  Cylene's leadership in exploiting CK2 pathways enables rational drug combinations for improved treatment outcomes against many cancer indications.  The Company's Pol I program provides a non-genotoxic mechanism for activating p53 to kill cancer cells.  Cylene's unique approaches deliver innovative cancer agents that can enable pharmaceutical companies to expand their portfolios and extend the efficacy, lifecycle and reach of current cancer therapeutics. For more information on Cylene and its programs, please visit www.cylenepharma.com.

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SOURCE Cylene Pharmaceuticals, Inc.