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 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | Archived
   
Gemin X Pan-Bcl-2 Inhibitor, GX15-070, Shows Biological Activity in Refractory Solid Tumors and Lymphomas

Montréal, Canada – June 5, 2006 – Gemin X Biotechnologies, Inc. announced today that results from a Phase 1 clinical trial of GX15-070 in patients with refractory solid tumors and lymphomas showed the compound to be generally well-tolerated at doses resulting in biological activity. The findings were summarized in a poster presentation entitled “A Phase I Study of the Pan-Bcl2 Family Inhibitor GX15-070, Administered as a 3-hour Weekly Infusion in Patients with Refractory Solid Tumors or Lymphomas” (Abstract 3081; Kashif Alam Firozvi, et al) during the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2006 Annual Meeting, June 2-6, 2006 in Atlanta, GA.

“We continue to be impressed by the potential breadth of GX15-070, which has now shown encouraging clinical results in Phase 1 trials for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, solid tumors and lymphomas, and which we are currently evaluating in a Phase 1 trial in additional hematological cancers,” said Dan Giampuzzi, President and CEO of Gemin X. “We look forward to evaluating these options and advancing GX15-070 into Phase 2 clinical trials later this year.”

The Phase 1 clinical trial enrolled 18 patients with refractory solid tumors or lymphomas who had failed a median of four prior types of treatment. All patients were treated with GX15-070 at doses ranging from 5 mg/m2 to 20 mg/m2 administered as a three-hour, weekly infusion in four week cycles. Clinical responses achieved to date include six patients with stable disease from 15 to 47+ weeks. Biological responses include a mean increase in plasma oligonucleosomal DNA levels of 7-fold over baseline, indicating successful induction of apoptosis. Additionally, Cmax and AUC were dose-proportional. Adverse events were mostly observed during or shortly after infusion and were transient. Side effects commonly associated with cancer treatments including neutropenia, thrombocytopenia or lymphopenia were not observed.

About GX15-070
GX15-070 is designed to restore apoptosis, the natural process of cell death that is often inhibited in cancer cells. Over-expression of the Bcl-2 protein family inhibits apoptosis and has been observed in a wide range of cancers, including those of the lymph, breast, lung, prostate and colon. GX15-070 is specifically designed to inhibit all of the anti-apoptotic members of the Bcl-2 protein family, thus inducing apoptosis in cancer cells without damaging normal cells, and is the first such small molecule, pan-inhibitor of Bcl-2 proteins tested in clinical trials.

Gemin X Biotechnologies Inc. specializes in the discovery and development of novel small-molecule cancer therapeutics based on the regulation of apoptosis, the body’s natural ability to destroy injured or damaged cells. Gemin X’s lead product, GX15-070, is a small molecule, pan-inhibitor of Bcl-2 proteins. Gemin X is also developing small molecules that induce apoptosis in p53-defective cancers. Gemin X is privately held and is located in Montreal, Quebec and Malvern, Pennsylvania.

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