Lixte Biotechnology Holdings' Lead Compound, LB-1.2, Enhances The Effectiveness Of Standard Cancer Chemotherapy In Animal Models

Main Category: Cancer / Oncology
Also Included In: Clinical Trials / Drug Trials;  Pharma Industry / Biotech Industry
Article Date: 03 Jul 2009 - 1:00 PDT

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Lixte Biotechnology Holdings (OTC Bulletin Board: LIXT) announced that investigators of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health and Lixte reported that its novel compound, LB-1.2, enhances the effectiveness of two standard chemotherapy drugs in mouse models of human cancers. This research is being conducted under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement between NINDS and Lixte. The report was published online in the early edition (June 29) of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (US). The print version will appear July 14.

Dr. John S. Kovach, President and CEO of Lixte, said "LB-1.2 exerts anti-cancer activity directly on the cancer cell and, more dramatically, by preventing cancer cells from recovering from DNA-damage produced by standard anti-cancer drugs. In mouse models, LB-1.2 plus Temozolomide caused complete regression without recurrence in 50 % of animals bearing tumors of human glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most common and aggressive brain tumor of adults, and also, marked regression of neuroblastoma, the most common cancer of children. Temozolomide, the standard drug for the treatment of patients with GBM, by itself caused regression but with recurrence of all tumors."

Dr. Kovach added "that, since LB-1.2 has a biochemical action similar to an older drug used for anticancer treatment for many years in China, we are cautiously optimistic that LB-1.2 will be well tolerated by cancer patients and hopefully, will potentially be as effective as it is in animal models of human cancer. We believe that adding LB-1.2 may be a general method for improving the effectiveness of several standard anticancer drugs not only against tumors of the brain and neural tissue but also against other cancers sensitive to drugs that work by damaging DNA. Safety, of course, must be demonstrated first in animal studies and subsequently in Phase I clinical trials before evaluation of therapeutic effectiveness can be assessed against different cancer types in patients."

About Lixte Biotechnology Holdings, Inc:

Lixte Biotechnology Holdings, Inc. is a cancer therapeutics and diagnostics company. Founded as a biomarker-diagnostics company in 2005, Lixte develops new chemotherapy drugs targeting molecular abnormalities of common human cancers.

About the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), (NIH):

NINDS (www.ninds.nih.gov) is a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and is the nation's primary supporter of biomedical research on the brain and nervous system.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) -- The Nation's Medical Research Agency -- includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases.

Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. For example, statements regarding the Company's financial position, business strategy and other plans and objectives for future operations, and assumptions and predictions about future product demand, supply, manufacturing, costs, marketing and pricing factors are all forward-looking statements. These statements are generally accompanied by words such as "intend," anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "potential(ly)," "continue," "forecast," "predict," "plan," "may," "will," "could," "would," "should," "expect" or the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology. The Company believes that the assumptions and expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, based on information available to it on the date hereof, but the Company cannot provide assurances that these assumptions and expectations will prove to have been correct or that the Company will take any action that the Company may presently be planning. However, these forward-looking statements are inherently subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results or experience may differ materially from those expected or anticipated in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, regulatory policies, available cash, research results, competition from other similar businesses, and market and general economic factors. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included on Form 10-QSB for the quarter ending March 31, 2009.

Source: Lixte Biotechnology Holdings