On September 23, 2024 Moleculin Biotech, Inc., (Nasdaq: MBRX) ("Moleculin" or the "Company"), a clinical stage pharmaceutical company with a broad portfolio of drug candidates targeting hard-to-treat tumors and viruses, reported the recent presentation of positive in vivo efficacy data of Annamycin in orthotopic and experimental lung metastatic models of sarcoma (Press release, Moleculin, SEP 23, 2024, View Source [SID1234646822]).
Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:
Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing
Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!
The poster titled "Annamycin: Opening New Doors for Organotropic Targeting of Primary and Metastatic Lung Cancer," authored by Waldemar Priebe, PhD (Founder, Founding Scientist, and Chair of Scientific Advisory Board for Moleculin) and coworkers was recently presented at the IASLC 2024 World Conference on Lung Cancer. The presented poster outlined results from the efficacy assessment studies of Annamycin, Moleculin’s next-generation anthracycline in orthotopic models of lung cancer and sarcoma lung metastasis models in comparison with doxorubicin (a commonly prescribed anthracycline).
"Annamycin continues to exhibit consistent activity against different type of cancers including therapy resistant cancers such as soft tissue sarcoma lung metastases while also avoiding cardiotoxicity, which continues to be a significant side effect limiting the clinical use of anthracyclines. Importantly, the presented data demonstrates that treatment with Annamycin results in statistically significant inhibition of tumor growth and extension of survival in orthotopic lung cancer models, which is consistent with the preliminary results we are seeing in our sarcoma clinical trials. This further underscores Annamycin’s potential to provide a much-needed treatment option for patients with primary or metastatic lung cancers, as a single agent and in combination with currently used therapeutics. Combined with the encouraging growing body of clinical data from our ongoing studies, we remain confident in Annamycin’s potential to address significant unmet needs in a wide range of cancers," commented Walter Klemp, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Moleculin.
Key Highlights
Annamycin demonstrated high uptake and retention in lung parenchyma of mice and rats.
The therapeutic effects of doxorubicin (DOX) are diminished due to low lung DOX uptake as demonstrated in the tested in vivo models. In contrast, Annamycin exhibits consistent efficacy in vivo in orthotopic and experimental lung metastatic models of sarcoma, breast, and colon cancer. This correlated with high Annamycin concentration in lungs, which exceeded DOX levels by 10- to 30-fold.
Preclinical tests clearly demonstrate a better cardiac safety profile of Annamycin when compared to DOX and no cardiotoxicity of Annamycin in the in vivo models. No cardiotoxicity of Annamycin has been noted in ongoing clinical studies.
The observed organotropic properties of Annamycin, its efficacy in vivo, and its promising safety profile warrant further translational studies to evaluate Annamycin in patients with primary or metastatic lung cancers, as a single agent and in combination with currently used therapeutics.
Annamycin is currently being evaluated in ongoing clinical trials for the treatment of relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and soft tissue sarcoma (STS) lung metastases. Annamycin currently has Fast Track Status and Orphan Drug Designation from the FDA for the treatment of relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia, in addition to Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of soft tissue sarcoma. Furthermore, Annamycin has Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia from the European Medicines Agency (EMA).