- Rexahn’s proprietary nanotechnology drug conjugate platforms optimize chemotherapy effectiveness and reduce side effect liability
ROCKVILLE, Md., Oct. 26, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rexahn Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE MKT:RNN), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing next generation targeted therapeutics for the treatment of cancer, today announced that it has been issued a patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) covering RX-21101 for the targeted delivery of docetaxel directly into cancer tumor cells using a nano-polymer conjugate technology.
"We are pleased to expand our intellectual property covering our unique and innovative targeting technologies in preclinical development. RX-21101 is the first proof of concept candidate from our Nano-Polymer-Drug Conjugate Systems (NPDCS). Our nanotechnology drug conjugate candidates address the large and immediate market for widely used chemotherapies, and they are a complement to our portfolio of proprietary compounds currently in clinical development,” commented Rexahn's CEO, Peter D. Suzdak, Ph.D.
RX-21101 is a nano-polymer conjugate with docetaxel bound to the polymer backbone together with a targeting moiety. The targeting moiety directs the bound drug to the cancer cell, thereby bypassing healthy cells leading to enhanced efficacy with the potential for reduced side effects. Once inside the cancer cell, the complex is metabolized yielding the free anticancer compound. It is the combination of the nano-polymer and the targeting moiety that makes Rexahn’s technology unique and increases the precision of delivery into the cancer cell. RX-21101 has been selected by the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory for its preclinical development program in 2015.
In addition, Rexahn has issued patents covering other nano-polymer conjugate systems including the carboxypropyl-methacrylamide (CPMA) nano-polymer-drug conjugate platform which offers several major advantages over existing drug conjugate systems including the ability to target the delivery of anticancer agents to cancer cells, high water solubility, increased bioavailability and the flexibility to covalently bind multiple structurally diverse classes of compounds to its chemical backbone. Rexahn is actively pursuing other potential drug conjugate candidates with our CPMA platform for the treatment of solid tumors.
About RX-21101
RX-21101 is a chemotherapeutic that combines Rexahn’s nano-drug delivery and targeting technology with docetaxel, a widely used FDA-approved chemo drug. RX-21101 may be more effective and better tolerated than docetaxel and preclinical studies have shown the potential to reduce peripheral neuropathy, a debilitating side effect of docetaxel. Potential indications include breast, ovarian, prostate and lung cancer.
About Rexahn Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Rexahn Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NYSE MKT:RNN) is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing novel, best-in-class therapeutics for the treatment of cancer. The Company's mission is to improve the lives of cancer patients by developing next generation cancer therapies that are designed to maximize efficacy while minimizing the toxicity and side effects traditionally associated with cancer treatment. Rexahn's product candidates work by targeting and neutralizing specific proteins believed to be involved in the complex biological cascade that leads to cancer cell growth. Preclinical studies show that certain of Rexahn's product candidates may be effective against multiple types of cancer, drug resistant cancers, and difficult-to-treat cancers, and others may augment the effectiveness of current FDA-approved cancer treatments. The Company has a broad oncology pipeline that includes three anti-cancer compounds currently in clinical development: RX-3117, Supinoxin™, and Archexin®, and a novel nano-polymer conjugate platform technology that targets the delivery of FDA approved chemotherapies directly into cancer tumor cells. For more information about the Company and its oncology programs, please visit www.rexahn.com.
Safe Harbor
To the extent any statements made in this press release deal with information that is not historical, these are forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about Rexahn's plans, objectives, expectations and intentions with respect to cash flow requirements, future operations and products, enrollments in clinical trials, the path of clinical trials and development activities, and other statements identified by words such as "will," "potential," "could," "can," "believe," "intends," "continue," "plans," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "may," other words of similar meaning or the use of future dates. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. Uncertainties and risks may cause Rexahn's actual results to be materially different than those expressed in or implied by Rexahn's forward-looking statements. For Rexahn, particular uncertainties and risks include, among others, understandings and beliefs regarding the role of certain biological mechanisms and processes in cancer; drug candidates being in early stages of development, including in preclinical development; the ability to initially develop drug candidates for orphan indications to reduce the time-to-market and take advantage of certain incentives provided by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; and the ability to transition from our initial focus on developing drug candidates for orphan indications to candidates for more highly prevalent indications. More detailed information on these and additional factors that could affect Rexahn's actual results are described in Rexahn's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent annual report on Form 10-K and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. All forward-looking statements in this news release speak only as of the date of this news release. Rexahn undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.