BiPar Announces Preclinical Data Demonstrating Anti Tumor Activity With BSI 401, Its Second Generation PARP Inhibitor

Main Category: Pancreatic Cancer
Also Included In: Cancer / Oncology;  Pharma Industry / Biotech Industry;  Clinical Trials / Drug Trials
Article Date: 25 Oct 2007 - 0:00 PDT

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BiPar Sciences, Inc., a privately held biopharmaceutical company developing novel cancer therapies, announced data demonstrating that BSI 401 inhibited pancreatic cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo, both alone and in combination with oxaliplatin. BSI 401 is BiPar's second-generation product in a new class of cancer therapies known as PARP (poly-ADP-ribose polymerase) inhibitors.

Researchers presented the data at the American Association for Cancer Research-National Cancer Institute-European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics in San Francisco.

"These results demonstrate the potential of BSI-401 to treat one of the most deadly and difficult-to-treat cancers," said James L. Abbruzzese, professor of gastrointestinal medical oncology and associate medical director of the gastrointestinal center at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, who helped conduct the research. "Because of PARP's role in DNA repair, inhibitors of the protein may make tumors more sensitive to oxaliplatin, which induces breaks in DNA strands, and could also be powerful enough to act as a targeted monotherapy."

Pancreatic cancer kills more than 30,000 each year in the United States. Patients with advanced pancreatic cancer do not usually survive a year after diagnosis, and the limited therapeutic options have made improved treatments a major unmet need in oncology.

In animals with orthotopic human pancreatic tumors, BSI-401 administered significantly reduced tumor burden and extended survival. In addition, a synergistic effect was seen with BSI-401 in combination with oxaliplatin.

PARP is a well-characterized and validated target for cancer therapies. PARP-1 plays a central role in cell proliferation in DNA repair, and the PARP-1 gene is upregulated in certain tumor types.

BiPar's novel, proprietary PARP inhibitors are the first of a new generation of drug candidates that show promising activity and a favorable toxicity profile. Preclinical and early clinical studies suggest the drugs selectively induce tumor cell death and are active against a broad range of tumor types.

BiPar's lead PARP inhibitor, BSI-201, is set to enter a series of Phase1b and Phase 2 trials in major cancers by the end of this year.

About BiPar Sciences

BiPar Sciences Inc. (http://www.biparsciences.com) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing and commercializing a pipeline of novel, tumor-selective drugs designed to meet the significant unmet needs of cancer patients.

BiPar Sciences, Inc.
http://www.biparsciences.com

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