ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals Reports Additional Pre-Clinical Data for ANX-514
December 01 2009 - 8:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
South Korean Partner Demonstrates Bioequivalence and Similar
Toxicity Profile to Taxotere SAN DIEGO, Dec. 1
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE
Amex: ANX) today announced that a new, recently completed
preclinical study has affirmed the bioequivalence and comparable
toxicity of ANX-514 and Taxotere® (docetaxel). Shin Poong
Pharmaceuticals, ADVENTRX's partner for ANX-514 in South Korea,
independently conducted the study and data analysis. "Our
independent confirmation of the bioequivalence and comparable
overall safety of ANX-514 and Taxotere affirm our belief in both
the emulsion platform technology underlying several ADVENTRX
product candidates and its application to docetaxel," stated Mr.
Byung Yong Kim, Executive Managing Director of Shin Poong
Pharmaceuticals. "We intend next to conduct a separate clinical
bioequivalence study of ANX-514 in South Korea and look forward to
continuing to work with ADVENTRX toward the possible
commercialization of ANX-514 in both the U.S. and South Korea."
About ANX-514 (docetaxel emulsion) ANX-514 is a novel emulsion
formulation of the chemotherapy drug docetaxel, a formulation of
which is marketed under the brand name Taxotere. ANX-514 is
formulated without polysorbate 80 or other detergents and is
intended to reduce the severity and/or incidence of the
hypersensitivity reactions often associated with Taxotere. In May
2009, ADVENTRX announced the results of a clinical bioequivalence
study of ANX-514. ANX-514 was determined to have comparable overall
safety as Taxotere, with no differences between treatment groups in
severe toxicities. However, pharmacokinetic equivalence, the
primary endpoint of the study, was not demonstrated based on
benchmark regulatory standards. The study data revealed higher
blood-levels of docetaxel during and immediately following infusion
of the study drug (i.e., during the first hour of treatment) in
patients receiving ANX-514 relative to those receiving Taxotere,
but, at 10 minutes after the completion of infusion, docetaxel
blood-levels were comparable and remained so through the end of the
observation period. ADVENTRX is analyzing these short-term
increased levels, which were the reason ANX-514 was outside
benchmark regulatory standards for determining bioequivalence.
About ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals is a
specialty pharmaceutical company whose product candidates are
designed to improve the performance of existing cancer treatments
by addressing limitations associated principally with their safety
and use. More information can be found on the Company's web site at
http://www.adventrx.com/. Forward Looking Statements ADVENTRX
cautions you that statements included in this press release that
are not a description of historical facts are forward-looking
statements that involve risks and assumptions that, if they
materialize or do not prove to be accurate, could cause ADVENTRX's
results to differ materially from historical results or those
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These
risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the risk
that preclinical results are not predictive of the success of
subsequent clinical trials and that products will not perform as
preclinical data suggests or as otherwise anticipated; the
robustness of the preclinical study conducted by Shin Poong
Pharmaceuticals and the validity of any conclusions drawn
therefrom, including the risk that ADVENTRX did not independently
verify the data or conclusions provided by Shin Poong
Pharmaceuticals; the risk the FDA will determine that ANX-514 and
Taxotere are not bioequivalent, including as a result of
determining that increased docetaxel blood-levels during and
immediately following infusion are clinically relevant; the risk
that future studies of ANX-514, including those performed by Shin
Poong Pharmaceuticals, will not demonstrate the bioequivalence of
ANX-514 and Taxotere; the potential for regulatory authorities to
require additional preclinical work and/or clinical activities to
support regulatory filings, including prior to the submission or
the approval of an NDA for ANX-514, which activities may increase
the cost and timeline to NDA submission or approval and negatively
impact ADVENTRX's ability to raise additional capital; the risk
that ADVENTRX will be unable to raise sufficient additional capital
to continue the development of ANX-514; the risk that ADVENTRX will
be unable to raise sufficient additional capital on a timely basis
to continue as a going concern; the risk that the performance of
third parties on whom Shin Poong Pharmaceuticals relied to conduct
its preclinical studies or evaluate the data, including contract
laboratories and contract research organizations, may have been
substandard, or they may have failed to perform as expected; and
other risks and uncertainties more fully described in ADVENTRX's
press releases and periodic filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. ADVENTRX's public filings with the Securities
and Exchange Commission are available at http://www.sec.gov/. You
are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements, which speak only as of the date when made. ADVENTRX
does not intend to revise or update any forward-looking statement
set forth in this press release to reflect events or circumstances
arising after the date on which it was made. DATASOURCE: ADVENTRX
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. CONTACT: Brian Culley, Principal Executive
Officer of ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals, +1-858-552-0866; or Investors,
Don Markley of Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates, Inc.,
+1-310-691-7100, , for ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals Web Site:
http://www.adventrx.com/
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