SAN DIEGO, California and
TORONTO, Ontario, Jan. 13, 2015 /PRNewswire/ - Aptose Biosciences
Inc. (NASDAQ: APTO, TSX: APS), a clinical-stage company developing
new therapeutics and molecular diagnostics that target the
underlying mechanisms of cancer, today announced dosing of the
first patient in its Phase 1b clinical study of APTO-253 in
patients with relapsed or refractory hematologic
malignancies. APTO-253 is a first-in-class inducer of the
Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) tumor suppressor gene, and the only
clinical-stage compound targeted for patients with suppressed KLF4
levels.
"Epigenetic suppression of the KLF4 gene has
been reported as a key transforming event in acute myeloid leukemia
and high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes, and Aptose is a pioneer in
advancing KLF4 induction as a new therapeutic approach for the
treatment of these patient populations," commented William G. Rice, Ph.D., Chairman, President and
CEO.
About the Study
The Phase 1b, multicenter, open-label,
dose-escalation clinical trial of APTO-253 is designed to assess
the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamic
responses and efficacy of APTO-253 as a single agent.
APTO-253 will be administered twice weekly, over a 28-day
cycle. The study is expected to enroll up to 30 patients with
relapsed or refractory hematologic malignancies across two separate
dose-escalation arms: (a) up to 15 patients with acute myeloid
leukemia (AML) and high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS)
patients, and (b) up to 15 patients with lymphomas (Hodgkin and
non-Hodgkin lymphoma) and multiple myeloma. The study is
designed to then transition to single-agent expansion cohorts in
AML and MDS, followed by combination studies. More information can
be found at www.clinicaltrials.gov.
About Aptose
Aptose Biosciences is a clinical-stage
biotechnology company committed to discovering and developing
personalized therapies addressing unmet medical needs in oncology.
Aptose is advancing new therapeutics focused on novel cellular
targets on the leading edge of cancer research, coupled with
companion diagnostics to identify the optimal patient population
for our products. Aptose's small molecule cancer therapeutics
pipeline includes products designed to provide enhanced efficacy
with existing anti-cancer therapies and regimens without
overlapping toxicities. Aptose Biosciences Inc. is listed on NASDAQ
under the symbol APTO and on the TSX under the symbol APS. For
further information, please visit www.aptosebiosciences.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking
statements within the meaning of Canadian and U.S. securities
laws. Such statements include, but are not limited to,
statements relating to the Company's plans, objectives,
expectations and intentions and other statements including words
such as "continue", "expect", "intend", "will", "should", "would",
"may", and other similar expressions. Such statements reflect our
current views with respect to future events and are subject to
risks and uncertainties and are necessarily based upon a number of
estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by us
are inherently subject to significant business, economic,
competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies.
Many factors could cause our actual results, performance or
achievements to be materially different from any future results,
performance or achievements described in this press release. Such
expressed or implied forward looking statements could include,
among others: our ability to obtain the capital required for
research and operations; the inherent risks in early stage drug
development including demonstrating efficacy; development time/cost
and the regulatory approval process; the progress of our clinical
trials; our ability to find and enter into agreements with
potential partners; our ability to attract and retain key
personnel; changing market conditions; and other risks detailed
from time-to-time in our ongoing quarterly filings, annual
information forms, annual reports and annual filings with Canadian
securities regulators and the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission.
Should one or more of these risks or
uncertainties materialize, or should the assumptions set out in the
section entitled "Risk Factors" in our filings with Canadian
securities regulators and the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission underlying those forward-looking statements prove
incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described
herein. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of
this press release and we do not intend, and do not assume any
obligation, to update these forward-looking statements, except as
required by law. We cannot assure you that such statements will
prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could
differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.
Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not
guarantees of future performance and accordingly investors are
cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements
due to the inherent uncertainty therein.
SOURCE Aptose Biosciences Inc.
