EpiCept to Present Preclinical Studies of EPC2407 in Combination With
Anti-Angiogenic and Chemotherpeutic Agents at the AACR-NCI-EORTC International
Conference
TARRYTOWN, N.Y., Oct. 22 -- EpiCept Corporation (Nasdaq and OMX Nordic
Exchange: EPCT) today announced that Dr. Ben Tseng, Chief Scientific Officer,
will present the results of studies examining the combination of EPC2407 with
cancer therapeutics in preclinical animal models at the AACR-NCI-EORTC
International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics in San
Francisco, CA on October 24, 2007. EPC2407 is EpiCept's novel small molecule
vascular disruption agent and apoptosis inducer for the treatment of patients
with advanced solid tumors and lymphomas that recently completed enrollment in
a Phase Ia single agent trial.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020513/NYM112LOGO )
The preclinical studies examined the effectiveness of combining EPC2407
with an anti-angiogenesis inhibitor, Avastin(R) or Sutent(R), or with the
chemotherapeutic agent cisplatin. EPC2407 was administered in combination with
a cancer therapeutic agent in mouse xenograft models of human non-small cell
lung carcinomas and human breast carcinomas. These studies indicated
significantly enhanced anti-tumor activity when EPC2407 was added to the
therapeutic regimen, compared with either agent administered alone, which
resulted in increased median survival and number of tumor-free animals well
after the end of treatment (>2.5 months). The results demonstrated additive to
synergistic activity when EPC2407 is used in combination with these cancer
therapeutics.
These results strongly support the clinical testing of EPC2407 in
combination with different anti-cancer agents. Advancement of EPC2407 in
clinical trials to Phase Ib combination studies is planned to initiate in early
2008.
About EpiCept Corporation
EpiCept is focused on unmet needs in the treatment of pain and cancer.
EpiCept has a staged portfolio of pharmaceutical product candidates with
several pain therapies in late-stage clinical trials, and a lead oncology
compound (for acute myeloid leukemia, or AML) with demonstrated efficacy in a
Phase III trial; a marketing authorization application for this compound has
been submitted in Europe. EpiCept is based in Tarrytown, N.Y., and its research
and development team in San Diego is pursuing a drug discovery program focused
on novel approaches to apoptosis.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release and any oral statements made with respect to the
information contained in this news release, contains forward-looking statements
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Such forward-looking statements include statements which express plans,
anticipation, intent, contingency, goals, targets, future development and are
otherwise not statements of historical fact. These statements are based on
EpiCept's current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that
could cause actual results or developments to be materially different from
historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results or
developments to differ materially include: the risk that the proposed public
offering will not be consummated, the risks associated with our need to raise
additional financing to continue to meet our capital needs and our ability to
continue as a going concern, the risk that Ceplene will not receive regulatory
approval or marketing authorization in the EU or that Ceplene, if approved,
will not achieve significant commercial success, the risk that Myriad's
development of Azixa(TM) will not be successful, the risk that Azixa will not
receive regulatory approval or achieve significant commercial success, the risk
that we will not receive any significant payments under our agreement with
Myriad, the risk that the development of our other apoptosis product candidates
will not be successful, the risk that our ASAP technology will not yield any
successful product candidates, the risk that clinical trials for NP-1 or EPC
2407 will not be successful, that NP-1 or EPC 2407 will not receive regulatory
approval or achieve significant commercial success, the risk that our other
product candidates that appeared promising in early research and clinical
trials do not demonstrate safety and/or efficacy in larger-scale or later stage
clinical trials, the risk that EpiCept will not obtain approval to market any
of its product candidates, the risks associated with dependence upon key
personnel, the risks associated with reliance on collaborative partners and
others for further clinical trials, development, manufacturing and
commercialization of our product candidates; the cost, delays and uncertainties
associated with our scientific research, product development, clinical trials
and regulatory approval process; our history of operating losses since our
inception; competition; litigation; risks associated with prior material
weaknesses in our internal controls; and risks associated with our ability to
protect our intellectual property. These factors and other material risks are
more fully discussed in EpiCept's periodic reports, including its reports on
Forms 8-K, 10-Q and 10-K and other filings with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission. You are urged to carefully review and consider the
disclosures found in EpiCept's filings which are available at www.sec.gov or at
www.epicept.com. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any
forward-looking statements, any of which could turn out to be wrong due to
inaccurate assumptions, unknown risks or uncertainties or other risk factors.
* Azixa is a registered trademark of Myriad Genetics, Inc.
EPCT-GEN
SOURCE EpiCept Corporation
-0- 10/22/2007
/CONTACT: Robert W. Cook, EpiCept Corporation, +1-914-606-3500,
rcook@epicept.com; or Media, Greg Kelley, Feinstein Kean Healthcare,
+1-617-577-8110, gregory.kelley@fkhealth.com; or Investors, Kim Sutton
Golodetz, +1-212-838-3777, kgolodetz@lhai.com or Bruce Voss, +1-310-691-7100,
bvoss@lhai.com, both of Lippert-Heilshorn & Associates /
/Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020513/NYM112LOGO
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com/
/Web site: http://www.epicept.com/
(EPCT)
EpiCept to Present Preclinical Studies of EPC2407 in Combination With Anti-Angiogenic and Chemotherpeutic Agents at the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference
| Source: Immune Pharmaceuticals Inc