Avalon Pharmaceuticals to Present at the American Association for Cancer Research 2007 Annual Meeting
April 10 2007 - 8:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
GERMANTOWN, Md., April 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Avalon
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVRX) (NYSE Arca: AVRX), today
announced that AVN944 will be the subject of three poster
presentations at the American Association for Cancer Research 2007
Annual Meeting to be held on April 14-18, 2007 in Los Angeles,
Calif. The first poster presented by Avalon, will review the data
derived from the Avalon ongoing Phase I clinical trial of AVN944
for the treatment of hematological cancers. The poster is titled,
"The Modulation of Gene Expression and Guanosine Pools by
Inhibition of Inosine Monophosphate Dehydrogenase (IMPDH);
correlating In Vitro Cell Resistance with Biomarker Response in
Patient Samples from the Phase I Trial." This poster will provide
data from clinical samples that correlate IMPDH inhibition, GTP
pool suppression, and associated changes in tumor cell gene
expression. The presentation will be Monday, April 16, 2007 from 8
a.m. until noon Pacific Time. The second Avalon poster presentation
is titled, "Antiangiogenic Properties of AVN944, A Potent Inhibitor
of IMPDH." The poster will describe in vitro and in vivo
experiments that reveal the effects of AVN944 on blood vessel
formation. The presentation will be on Tuesday, April 17, 2007 from
8 a.m. until noon Pacific Time. Another poster that will discuss
AVN944 will be presented by the lab of Dr. Beverly Mitchell of
Stanford University. The poster is titled, "GTP depletion induces
translocation of TIF-IA and PAF53, inhibition of pre-rRNA synthesis
and dislocation of nucleolar proteins." The presentation cites
AVN944 as a compound that has effects on rRNA inhibition and
nucleolar protein translocation. The poster presentation will be
Tuesday, April 17, 2007 from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. Pacific Time. All
three posters are in the Experimental and Molecular Therapeutics
Poster Sessions. About AVN944 AVN944 is an oral small molecule drug
candidate that inhibits inosine monosphospate dehydrogenase
(IMPDH), an enzyme that is critical for cells to be able to
synthesize guanosine triphosphate (GTP), a molecule required for
DNA synthesis and cellular signaling. IMPDH is over expressed in
some cancer cells, especially in the case of hematological
malignancies. In laboratory experiments, AVN944 has been shown to
inhibit IMPDH activity in cells, and suppress pools of GTP.
Anticancer activities of IMPDH inhibitors correlate with sustained
depletion of GTP pools both in cellular models and in human
subjects. AVN944 appears to have a selective effect on cancer cells
in that deprivation of GTP in normal cells results in a temporary
slowing of cell growth, while GTP deprivation in cancer cells
induces cell death, or apoptosis. Results from preclinical studies
of AVN944 indicate that AVN944 inhibited the proliferation of
lymphoid and myeloid cells, the principal cells involved in the
most common types of human leukemias. In a single-dose, dose-
escalation phase I clinical trial of AVN944 conducted in the United
Kingdom in healthy volunteers, AVN944: (1) was well tolerated at
all tested doses with no notable side effects; (2) demonstrated
good pharmacokinetic properties; and (3) had a significant
inhibitory effect on IMPDH enzyme activity. Avalon filed an IND
with the FDA in August 2005 and initiated U.S. phase I clinical
trials in January 2006 for the treatment of hematological cancers.
About Avalon Pharmaceuticals Avalon Pharmaceuticals is a
biopharmaceutical company using its proprietary technology,
AvalonRx(R), to discover and develop cancer therapeutics. Avalon
has a lead product in Phase I clinical development (AVN944 - IMPDH
inhibitor), as well as preclinical programs to discover inhibitors
for the beta-catenin and aurora pathways now in late stage lead
candidate optimization. Avalon also has discovery programs on
modulators of survivin function and a drug discovery program
targeting the MYC oncoprotein, one of the most important and
previously intractable cancer targets. The company has value
generating partnerships with Merck, MedImmune, Medarex, and
Novartis. Avalon Pharmaceuticals was established in 1999 and is
headquartered in Germantown, Md. Safe Harbor Statement This
announcement contains, in addition to historical information,
certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and
uncertainties, in particular, related to progress in our drug
discovery programs and our collaborations, and clinical progress in
the development of AVN944. Such statements reflect the current
views of Avalon management and are based on certain assumptions.
Actual results could differ materially from those currently
anticipated as a result of a number of factors, risks and
uncertainties including the risk that the discovery programs and
collaborations may not be successful and that AVN944 will not
progress successfully in its clinical trials, and other risks
described in our SEC filings. There can be no assurance that our
development efforts will succeed, that AVN944 will receive required
regulatory clearance or, even if such regulatory clearance is
received, that any subsequent products will ultimately achieve
commercial success. The information in this Release should be read
in conjunction with the Risk Factors set forth in our 2005 Annual
Report on Form 10-K and updates contained in subsequent filings we
make with the SEC. Contacts: Avalon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Noonan
Russo Gary Lessing Greg Geissman (Media) Executive Vice President
& CFO Tel: (619) 814-3510 Tel: (301) 556-9900 Fax: (301)
556-9910 The Trout Group LLC Email: Chad Rubin (Investors) Tel:
(646) 378-2947 DATASOURCE: Avalon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. CONTACT:
Gary Lessing, Executive Vice President & CFO of Avalon
Pharmaceuticals, Inc., +1-301-556-9900, ; or Greg Geissman of
Noonan Russo, +1-619-814-3510; or Investors, Chad Rubin of The
Trout Group LLC, +1-646-378-2947, both for Avalon Pharmaceuticals,
Inc. Web site: http://www.noonanrusso.com/
Copyright
Avalon (NASDAQ:AVRX)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jun 2024 to Jul 2024
Avalon (NASDAQ:AVRX)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jul 2023 to Jul 2024