RestorGenex Announces Data on the Effect of RES-529 in Pulmonary Fibrosis Models

Scientific Data Presentation of RES-529 at the American Thoracic Society


BUFFALO GROVE, Ill., May 21, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RestorGenex Corporation (OTCQB:RESX), a specialty biopharmaceutical company focused on developing products for oncology, ophthalmology and dermatology, announced that Keith Ferguson, M.D. and Nathan Sandbo, M.D., both of the Division of Allergy, Pulmonary, and Critical Care Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, presented scientific data utilizing RES-529 in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The poster entitled "The Novel TOR Complex 1/2 Inhibitor RestorGenex 529 (RES-529) Inhibits Human Lung Myofibroblast Differentiation" was presented on Tuesday, May 19, 2015 at the American Thoracic Society International Conference in Denver, Colorado.

The presentation discussed results from pre-clinical research evaluating RES-529, a small molecule that interferes with the molecular components which make up TORC1 and TORC2 protein complexes within the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. The focus of the presentation was on in vitro and in vivo models of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). IPF is a disabling progressive and often deadly disorder with very few therapeutic options in which the lungs become progressively scarred over time causing shortness of breath, coughing, and limiting participation in everyday physical activities. Current treatments for IPF include oxygen therapy, pulmonary rehabilitation, and lung transplant. Median survival for IPF patients is only two to four years.

The persistent activation of myofibroblasts has been described in IPF and signaling via the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway has been shown to mediate myofibroblast differentiation. These studies investigated the potential antifibrotic effect of RES-529 in (1) TGF-β dependent activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, (2) myofibroblast differentiation, and (3) an in vivo pulmonary fibrosis model.

RES-529 was shown to inhibit both mTOR-dependent signaling and myofibroblast differentiation in human lung fibroblasts. In a 10-day in vivo mouse model of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis, RES-529 showed a trend toward improved survival and less histologic fibrosis.

 "There is a large need for better treatments for patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. This data support the potential effectiveness of dual inhibition of both TORC1 and TORC2 with RES-529 in halting some of the key cellular events that promote pulmonary fibrosis," said Nathan Sandbo, M.D., senior author of the presentation. 

Stephen M. Simes, chief executive officer of RestorGenex added, "Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a devastating disease. While our current focus is on the use of RES-529 in oncology and ophthalmology, we believe that RES-529 has potentially wide-ranging applications in treating other diseases as demonstrated by this encouraging research of RES-529 as a treatment for pulmonary fibrosis."

About RestorGenex Corporation

RestorGenex is a specialty biopharmaceutical company focused on developing a portfolio of first-in-class therapeutic products to treat diseases across the ophthalmologic, oncologic and dermatologic space. RestorGenex's lead product is a novel PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway inhibitor which has completed two Phase I clinical trials for age-related macular degeneration and is in pre-clinical development for glioblastoma multiforme. The current pipeline also includes a "soft" anti-androgen compound for the treatment of acne vulgaris. RestorGenex's novel inhibition of the PI3K pathway and unique targeting of the androgen receptor show promise in a number of additional diseases, which the Company is evaluating for the purpose of creating safe and effective treatments and innovative therapies. For additional information please see: www.restorgenex.com.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the potential applications of RES-529 in treating diseases, including pulmonary fibrosis and other statements that are not historical in nature, particularly those that utilize terminology such as "believe,"  "potential," "show promise," "may," "expects," "future," "continue," other words of similar meaning, derivations of such words and the use of future dates. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. Risks and uncertainties may cause RestorGenex's actual results to be materially different than those expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Particular risks and uncertainties include, among others, uncertainties involved in clinical testing, the difficulty of developing pharmaceutical products, obtaining regulatory and other approvals and achieving market acceptance, RestorGenex's ability to license out its existing products and technologies and license in additional products and technologies and the terms of such licenses; and other risks and uncertainties described in RestorGenex's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 and subsequent quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2015. All forward-looking statements in this release speak only as of the date of this release and are based on RestorGenex's current beliefs and expectations. RestorGenex undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.


            

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