Gemin X Demonstrates In Vivo Efficacy of Proprietary Cancer Specific Apoptosis Inducers
- AACR Conference Data Demonstrate that Gemin X's Small Molecule Compound Series Improves Survival in Mice with Ovarian Tumors -
Montreal, QC — October 31, 2001 — Gemin X Biotechnologies Inc. announced today that their proprietary series of small molecules, called GX01, selectively induce apoptosis (the natural process of cell death) in cancer cells. Gemin X scientists presented the data today at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) - National Cancer Institute (NCI) - European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) International Conference in Miami Beach, Florida.
"Apoptosis is the natural process of cell death through which the body removes unneeded or damaged cells," explained Pierre Beauparlant, Executive Director of Scientific Development at Gemin X. "The Bcl-2 protein, a validated drug target implicated in many types of cancer, suppresses this vital process of apoptosis in cancer cells - allowing them to divide and grow unchecked. Gemin X's GX01 compounds bind to Bcl-2 and overcome the process through which Bcl-2 suppresses apoptosis. This ability to target the Bcl-2 pathway allows GX01 compounds to restore the normal process of apoptosis, effectively destroying the tumor."
The data presented at the conference indicate that, in cellular models, GX01 compounds selectively induce apoptosis in cancer cells without affecting normal cells. While GX01 compounds enter both cancerous and normal cells, the cancerous cells show a significantly greater apoptotic response at low nanomolar concentrations. The selectivity that GX01 compounds demonstrate for cancerous cells indicates that GX01's action requires the presence of oncogenic (cancer-causing) changes in the cell. This selectivity was also observed in vivo, where GX01 compounds were shown to significantly improve the survival of mice bearing ovarian tumors.
"The data presented at this conference validate our lead program, the GX01 series of small molecule compounds that target the Bcl-2 pathway," said Gemin X Chief Executive Officer Dan Giampuzzi. "Attaining positive data in both cellular and animal models such as these allows us to proceed confidently through preclinical testing with selected GX01 lead compounds.".
Gemin X Biotechnologies Inc. is a Montréal, Québec, based biopharmaceutical company specializing in the discovery and development of novel cancer therapeutics. The Company's expertise is in apoptosis, the natural process of cell death that serves as the body's defense against injured or damaged cells. Using its proprietary discovery platform, Gemin X has identified a series of small molecules that effectively inhibit the Bcl-2 pathway, a validated drug target implicated in B cell lymphoma, breast, lung, prostate and colorectal cancer. Additionally, the Company has programs dedicated to the identification of novel cancer targets and therapeutics, discovering small molecules that promote apoptosis in cells infected with latent viruses, and finding compounds that act against chemo-resistant cancers.
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