Avalon Pharmaceuticals Announces their Beta-catenin Inhibitors Demonstrate Potent Cytotoxic Effects in Multiple Myeloma
December 10 2007 - 8:00AM
Business Wire
Avalon Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: AVRX), yesterday presented
results at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting
on its Beta-catenin pathway inhibitor program. Results show this
small molecule compound family has potent inhibitory effects on
Wnt/Beta-catenin signaling in Multiple Myeloma (MM) cells. The
Beta-catenin pathway is activated in the majority of MM cells, and
is known to play a critical role in Myeloma cell survival. The
presentation described inhibition of cell growth, decrease in
Beta-catenin protein levels and potent induction of apoptosis in
Myeloma cells by the Beta-catenin pathway inhibitors. Gene
expression biomarkers that report on Beta-catenin pathway
inhibition in Myeloma cells were identified and used to monitor
Beta-catenin pathway inhibition. �Studies show that inhibition of
the Wnt/Beta-catenin pathway could be an effective treatment for
many cancers, including Multiple Myeloma,� said Stephen Horrigan,
Ph.D., Vice President of Research. �Therefore, we believe that our
Beta-catenin pathway inhibitor is a promising candidate for
pre-clinical development for hematological cancers.� Optimization
of the compound series was developed in less than 12 months by
utilizing AvalonRx�, the Company�s proprietary biomarker centric
approach which increased the potency of the compounds (>50-fold)
on the pathway and led to a series of compounds that have activity
in tumor models. Beta-catenin Pathway It is estimated the
Beta-catenin pathway is abnormally activated in more than 90% of
colon cancers and in a large number of other solid and
hematological cancers. Many of these tumor cells have been found to
be dependent on the Beta-catenin pathway for survival and to be
particularly sensitive to inhibition of this critical pathway.
Since the activation of the pathway is dependent on the activity of
the Beta-catenin protein, a classically intractable target, Avalon
Rx� is particularly well suited for the identification and
optimization of drugs targeting this important pathway. AvalonRx�
AvalonRx� is a comprehensive, innovative and proprietary suite of
technologies based upon large-scale gene expression analysis. This
platform facilitates drug discovery by expanding the range of
therapeutic targets for drug intervention, including targets and
target pathways frequently considered intractable using
conventional HTS approaches. It also allows more informed decisions
about which compounds to advance towards clinical trials and
facilitates drug development through identification of biomarkers
of efficacy that can stratify patients or provide early indicators
of response. About Avalon Pharmaceuticals Avalon is a
biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and
commercialization of first-in-class cancer therapeutics. Avalon�s
lead product candidate, AVN944,�an IMPDH inhibitor, is in Phase II
clinical development. Avalon also has preclinical programs to
develop inhibitors of the Beta-catenin and Aurora/Centrosome
pathways,�discovery programs�for�inhibitors of�the Survivin�and
Myc�pathways and partnerships with Merck, MedImmune, ChemDiv,
Medarex, and Novartis. AvalonRx� is the company�s proprietary
platform�which is based on�large-scale�biomarker identification and
monitoring, used to discover and develop therapeutics for pathways
that have historically been characterized as "undruggable." Avalon
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. 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
those specified under the �Risk Factors� section of our 2006 Annual
Report on Form 10-K and updates contained in subsequent filings we
make with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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