LAUSANNE, Switzerland and LEXINGTON, Mass., April 7, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Curis, Inc. (Nasdaq:CRIS), an oncology focused company developing novel, targeted drug candidates for the treatment of human cancers, and Debiopharm Group™ (Debiopharm), a Swiss-based global biopharmaceutical group of companies with a focus on the development of prescription drugs that target unmet medical needs, including oncology as well as companion diagnostics, today announced the presentation of data for Debio 0932 at the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) that demonstrated synergy between Debio 0932 and various standard of care (SOC) agents in multiple in vitro and xenograft models of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Debio 0932 is currently being investigated in a Phase 1/2 trial in combination with SOC agents in patients with advanced NSCLC and in a Phase 1 trial in combination with everolimus, a mTOR inhibitor, in advanced RCC patients.
In a high throughput combination screen performed with six different human NSCLC cell lines, Debio 0932 demonstrated consistent synergy with microtubule and mTOR/ Akt targeting agents across all six cell lines. Additionally, Debio 0932 also showed strong synergy with everolimus in multiple patient derived and conventional RCC cell lines. Similar synergy and anti-tumor activity with Debio 0932 in combination with these agents was also demonstrated in human xenograft models of NSCLC and RCC.
"We are very encouraged by these preclinical data, which are the basis for the ongoing trials in NSCLC and RCC with Debio 0932 in combination with respective SOC agents," said Rolland-Yves Mauvernay, President and founder of Debiopharm Group™.
"These preclinical combination treatment results with multiple agents provide the path and strong rationale for clinical investigation of Debio 0932 in combination with SOC therapies that may provide improved benefit for patients with advanced lung and kidney cancers," said Ali Fattaey, Ph.D., President and Chief Operating Officer of Curis.
About Debio 0932
Debio 0932 is a synthetic small molecule that belongs to the HSP90 family inhibitors. It competes with ATP in binding to the N-terminal portion of HSP90 and inactivates the ATPase activity of the chaperone. Inhibition of HSP90 results in an increased degradation of oncogenic proteins resulting in tumor growth inhibition.
About Debiopharm Group™
Debiopharm Group™ is a Swiss-based global biopharmaceutical group of four companies active in drug development, GMP manufacturing of proprietary drugs, diagnostics, and investments. Debiopharm International SA is focused on the development of prescription drugs that target unmet medical needs. The company in-licenses, develops and/or co-develops promising biological and small molecule drug candidates for global registration. The products are commercialized through out-licensing to pharmaceutical partners to give access to the largest number of patients worldwide. For more information about Debiopharm Group™, please visit: www.debiopharm.com.
About Curis, Inc.
Curis is an oncology-focused drug development company seeking to develop novel drug candidates for the treatment of human cancers. Curis is seeking to further the development of its pipeline of proprietary targeted cancer drug candidates, including CUDC-907, a dual HDAC and PI3K inhibitor, and CUDC-427, a small molecule antagonist of IAP proteins. Curis is also engaged in a collaboration with Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, under which Genentech and Roche are developing and commercializing Erivedge®, the first and only FDA-approved medicine for the treatment of advanced basal cell carcinoma. Curis-discovered HSP90 inhibitor, Debio 0932 is being studied in patients with advanced lung and kidney cancers by partner Debiopharm. For more information, visit Curis' website at www.curis.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including without limitation statements regarding Debio 0932's potential benefit to patients with advanced lung and kidney cancers. Forward-looking statements used in this press release may contain the words "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "plans," "seeks," "estimates," "assumes," "will," "may," "could" or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. For example, Debiopharm may not be able to successfully enroll patients in clinical studies of Debio 0932, Debiopharm may experience delays, setbacks and failures in its clinical development of Debio 0932, and Debio 0932 may cause unexpected toxicities. Moreover, positive results in preclinical studies of Debio 0932 may not be predictive of similar results in human clinical trials, and promising results from early clinical trials of Debio 0932 may not be replicated in later clinical trials. Debiopharm may not achieve projected research, development and commercialization goals in its expected time frames.
Curis also faces other important risks relating to, among other things, the successful development and commercialization of its and its collaborators' product candidates and its business, operations, financial condition and future prospects generally, that are discussed in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 and other filings that it periodically makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Any forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date hereof. Curis disclaims obligation to update any forward-looking statements except to the extent required by law.
CONTACT: Debiopharm International SA Contact
Christelle Tur
Communication Coordinator
Christelle.tur@debiopharm.com
Tel: +41 (0)21 321 01 11
Additional Media Contacts
In London:
Maitland
Brian Hudspith
Tel: +44 (0)20 7379 5151
bhudspith@maitland.co.uk
In New York:
Russo Partners, LLC
Martina Schwarzkopf, Ph.D.
Account Executive
Tel: +1 212-845-4292
Fax: +1 212-845-4260
martina.schwarzkopf@russopartnersllc.com
Curis, Inc. Contacts
Mani Mohindru, Ph.D.
Vice President, Corporate Strategy and
Investor Relations
Tel.: +1 617 503 6605
mmohindru@curis.com
Michael P. Gray
Chief Financial and Chief Operating Officer
Tel.: +1 617 503 6632
Fax: +1 617 503 6500
mgray@curis.com