TRACON Pharmaceuticals Announces TRC105, TRC253 and TRC102 Data Presentations at Upcoming AACR Annual Meeting


SAN DIEGO, March 27, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TRACON Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:TCON), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel targeted therapeutics for cancer and, through our license to Santen Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., wet age-related macular degeneration, today announced that preclinical data from TRC105 and TRC253, as well as Phase 2 clinical data from TRC102, will be presented at the upcoming American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting, to be held from March 29 to April 3, 2019, in Philadelphia, PA.

Dr. Mark Schoonderwoerd and colleagues from Leiden University will present a poster featuring data from preclinical studies of TRC105 and PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors. The presentation details are as follows:

Poster Title:Synergistic inhibition of cancer invasion and metastasis by combined anti-PD1-TRC105-mediated Endoglin targeting on cancer-associated fibroblasts and endothelial cells
Abstract Link:https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/6812/presentation/3044
Session Category:Combination Approaches to Novel Therapies
Location:Section 12, Poster Board 291/12
Date:Sunday, March 31, 2019
Time:1:00pm – 5:00pm EDT

Dr. Tammy Bush and colleagues from Janssen Research and Development will present a poster featuring preclinical data from TRC253, a small molecule antagonist of mutant and wild-type androgen receptor.  The presentation details are as follows:

Poster Title:Antitumor activity of JNJ-63576253 (TRC253), a small molecule antagonist of F877L mutant and wild-type androgen receptor
Abstract Link:https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/6812/presentation/6162
Session Category:Novel Therapeutics and Pathways
Location:Section 14, Poster Board 2179/1
Date:Monday, April 1, 2019
Time:1:00pm – 5:00pm EDT

Dr. Geraldine Coyne and colleagues from the National Cancer Institute will present a poster featuring data from the Phase 2 clinical trial of TRC102 and Temodar® (temozolomide) in subjects with colorectal cancer.  The presentation details are as follows:

Poster Title:A Phase II trial of TRC102 (methoxyamine HCl) in combination with temozolomide in patients with relapsed metastatic colorectal carcinoma
Abstract Link: Late-Breaking Abstracts are embargoed until March 29, 2019
Session Category:Late-Breaking Research - Molecular and Cellular Biology/Genetics 2
Location:Section 41, Poster Board LB-293/10
Date: Wednesday, April 3, 2019
Time:8:00am – 12:00pm EDT

Posters will be available on the company’s website following presentation.

About TRC105 (carotuximab)

TRC105, the oncology formulation of carotuximab, is a novel, clinical stage antibody to endoglin, a protein overexpressed on proliferating endothelial cells that is essential for angiogenesis, the process of new blood vessel formation. TRC105 is currently being studied in the pivotal Phase 3 TAPPAS trial in patients with angiosarcoma as well as multiple Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials in other tumor types. TRC105 has received orphan designation for the treatment of soft tissue sarcoma in both the US and EU. The ophthalmic formulation of TRC105, DE-122, is currently being studied in the randomized Phase 2 AVANTE trial in patients with wet AMD. For more information about the clinical trials, please visit TRACON’s website at www.traconpharma.com/clinical_trials.php.

About TRC253

TRC253 is a novel, orally bioavailable small molecule that is a potent, high affinity competitive inhibitor of the androgen receptor (AR) and AR mutations, including the F877L mutation. The AR F877L mutation results in an alteration in the AR ligand binding domain that confers resistance to therapies for prostate cancer. Therapies targeting the AR have demonstrated clinical efficacy by extending time to disease progression, and in some cases, the survival of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. However, resistance to these agents is often observed and several molecular mechanisms of resistance have been identified, including gene amplification, overexpression, alternative splicing, and point mutation of the AR. TRC253 is currently being studied in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial in prostate cancer. For more information about the clinical trial, please visit TRACON’s website at www.traconpharma.com/clinical_trials.php

About TRC102

TRC102 (methoxyamine) is a novel, clinical-stage small molecule inhibitor of the DNA base excision repair pathway, which is a pathway that causes resistance to alkylating and antimetabolite chemotherapeutics. TRC102 is currently being studied in multiple Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials sponsored by the National Cancer Institute or Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. For more information about the clinical trials, please visit TRACON’s website at www.traconpharma.com/clinical_trials.php.

About TRACON

TRACON develops targeted therapies for cancer and ophthalmic diseases. The Company’s clinical-stage pipeline includes: TRC105, an endoglin antibody that is being developed for the treatment of multiple cancers; DE-122, the ophthalmic formulation of TRC105 that is being developed in wet AMD through a collaboration with Santen Pharmaceutical Company Ltd.; TRC102, a small molecule being developed for the treatment of lung cancer and glioblastoma; and TRC253, a small molecule being developed for the treatment of prostate cancer. TRACON is actively seeking additional corporate partnerships whereby it shares in the cost and risk of clinical development and commercialization of new product candidates.  In these partnerships TRACON believes it can serve as a solution for companies without clinical and commercial capabilities in the United States.  To learn more about TRACON and its product candidates, visit TRACON's website at www.traconpharma.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements made in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward‐looking statements. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding TRACON's plans to further develop its product candidates, expectations regarding the timing and scope of clinical trials and availability of clinical data, expected development milestones, estimated cash runway, potential utility of TRACON’s product candidates, potential events under collaboration and license agreements, and TRACON’s business development strategy. Risks that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward‐looking statements include: risks associated with clinical development; whether TRACON or others will be able to complete or initiate clinical trials on TRACON’s expected timelines, if at all; the fact that future preclinical studies and clinical trials may not be successful or otherwise consistent with results from prior studies; the fact that TRACON has limited control over whether or when third party collaborators complete on-going trials or initiate additional trials of TRACON’s product candidates; the fact that TRACON’s collaboration agreements are subject to early termination; potential changes in regulatory requirements in the United States and foreign countries; TRACON’s reliance on third parties for the development of its product candidates, including the conduct of its clinical trials and manufacture of its product candidates; whether TRACON will be able to obtain additional financing; the possibility of unexpected expenses or other uses of TRACON’s cash resources; and other risks described in TRACON’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the heading “Risk Factors”. All forward‐looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made and are based on management’s assumptions and estimates as of such date. TRACON undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.

Company Contact:Investor Contact:
Mark WigginsAndrew McDonald
Chief Business OfficerLifeSci Advisors LLC
(858) 251-3492646-597-6987
mwiggins@traconpharma.comAndrew@lifesciadvisors.com