EUCLISES PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. RECEIVES NOTICE OF PATENT ALLOWANCE FROM EUROPEAN PATENT OFFICE FOR NEW CLASS OF COMPOUNDS FOR TREATMENT OF CANCER, PAIN AND INFLAMMATION
St. Louis, MO – December 9, 2015 – Euclises Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of novel COX-2 inhibitors for use in treating certain cancers, pain and inflammation, has received a Notice of Allowance from the European Patent Office (EPO) for Patent Application No. 12879240.5 entitled, “Deuterated Benzopyran Compounds and Application Thereof.” The covered compounds have been shown to be very potent and highly selective in the inhibition the COX-2 enzyme.
The patent broadly covers some of the Company’s novel compounds, including its lead drug ECP-1014, which has demonstrated significant slowing of tumor growth in animal models of cancer. Euclises is currently focused on completing the IND-enabling studies in anticipation of initiating clinical trials late in 2016 in patients with colorectal cancer.
COX-2 has been shown to play a critical role in tumorigenesis, progression and development of resistance to standard-of-care chemotherapies in a number of cancers, including NSCLC, CRC, pancreatic cancer, renal cell cancer, cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma. While the role of COX-2 in cancer has been well known for some time, older COX-2 inhibitors have not been effectively developed for oncology treatment, in part due to side effects that limit dosing. Use of these older inhibitors in initial clinical studies has, however, firmly validated the efficacy of COX-2 inhibition in cancer and also facilitated the identification of a non-invasive biomarker that allows selection and monitoring of patients whose tumors are dependent on the COX-2 pathway. Euclises’ new classes of COX-2 inhibitors appear to possess the favorable characteristics of the older drugs but are expected to support clinically optimal anti- cancer dose levels safely.
About Euclises:
Euclises Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company advancing novel cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors (EuclicoxibsTM) for use in the treatment of cancer. Working with development partner Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health (GIBH), Euclises has selected a clinical development candidate (ECP-1014) and is currently conducting studies in preparation for human clinical trials. The company is currently headquartered within the BioGenerator Labs at CORTEX and supported by funding from Cultivation Capital, BioGenerator, Missouri Technology Corporation, the St. Louis Arch Angels and other investors. For more information, visit the Euclises website at www.euclises.com.
Forward-Looking Statements:
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are those involving future events and future results that are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections as well as the current beliefs and assumptions of the Company’s management. Words such as “outlook,” “believes,” “expects,” “appears,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “anticipates” or the negative thereof or comparable terminology, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Any statement that is not a historical fact is a forward-looking statement. Forward-looking statements are only predictions and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not assume any obligation to update the information contained in this press release.
Media Relations Contact:
George Capps
Euclises Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (314) 932-4032 x317 gcapps@euclises.com