MetrioPharm AG
MetrioPharm extends drug pipeline to cancer therapy
MetrioPharm AG / Miscellaneous 18.03.2010 07:45 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG. The issuer / publisher is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Zurich, 18th March 2010: MetrioPharm AG (WKN: A0YD9Q; ISIN: CH0107076744) extends the development program for its in-licensed drug Etomoxir and follow-up substances to cancer therapy. A recent study from the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and the University of Texas, Houston, shows compelling evidence for the efficacy of MetrioPharm's lead compound Etomoxir in the treatment of leukaemia. The study shows that Etomoxir is capable of inhibiting leukaemia cell growth and make these tumor cells more susceptible to cytostatic treatment (The Journal of Clinical Investigation, 2010 Jan, 120(1):142-156). The results from an animal model show that Etomoxir in combination with a standard chemotherapeutic therapy (AraC) increases the survival by 67 percent in comparison to a control group. The study demonstrates the great potential which lies in the metabolic modulation of tumor cells during cancer therapy. Etomoxir and the follow-up compounds in MetrioPharm's pipeline modulate the energy metabolism of cells by inhibiting the transport protein carnitine palmitoyltransferase I (CPT I). This prevents the tumor cells from utilizing fatty acids as a source of energy. The study results from Texas show that tumor cell survival of leukaemic and possibly also other tumor cells are critically dependant on an uninhibited fatty-acid metabolism. In light of these results, MetrioPharm AG has re-evaluated its pipeline of metabolic modulator drugs (MP2070/Etomoxir). In addition to the existing development program targeting chronic heart failure, the company has made a decision to initiate a development program for oncological indications. 'The results from the USA increase the value of our drug pipeline substantially. So far the therapeutic focus for Etomoxir and the other CPT I inhibitors in our pipeline was chronic heart failure. With the extension into cancer therapeutics, MetrioPharm is now moving into a field, where patients are urgently awaiting better treatment options', commented Dr. Wolfgang Brysch, president of the board of MetrioPharm AG. 'The efficacy of CPT I inhibitors for leukaemia treatment shows the great potential which lies in this class of drugs. Especially with respect to other cancer treatments, our compounds stand out with excellent tolerability and a high safety profile. In cancer therapy, apart from an increase in life expectancy, these factors translate into a higher quality of life for patients', explained Brysch. About METRIOPHARM AG: MetrioPharm AG is a biotechnology company that specializes in the development and registration of small-molecular drugs which are in an advanced stage of development. Generally positive proof-of-efficacy data in humans exist for the company's pipeline products. Lead substances are the immunomodulator MP1021 for the treatment of severe infectious and inflammatory diseases and MP2070/Etomoxir for the treatment of chronic heart failure. Company Contact: MetrioPharm AG Neuendorfstrasse 20B 16761 Hennigsdorf www.metriopharm.com T. +49 (0) 3302 20 234 02 F. +49 (0) 3302 20 234 99 info@metriopharm.com Investor Relations Contact: GFEI Aktiengesellschaft Hamburger Allee 26-28 60486 Frankfurt am Main www.gfei.de T. +49 (0) 69 743 037 00 F. +49 (0) 69 743 037 22 metriopharm@gfei.de 18.03.2010 Ad hoc announcement, Financial News and Media Release distributed by DGAP. Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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