Lorus Therapeutics Announces Promising Clinical Results for Anticancer Drug LOR-253
TORONTO, CANADA--(Marketwired - Jul 9, 2013) - Lorus Therapeutics Inc. (LOR.TO) ("Lorus"), a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the discovery, research and development of pharmaceutical products and technologies for the management of cancer, today announced the results of the Phase 1 clinical trial of the novel agent, LOR-253. In this first-in-man, dose-escalation clinical study, LOR-253 demonstrated an excellent safety profile as well as encouraging signs of antitumor activity.
The design consisted of LOR-253 as a single agent in patients with advanced solid tumors resistant to multiple standard therapies. The study enrolled 27 patients, all of whom had previously failed a median of 4 prior chemotherapies. Although this was primarily a dose-escalation safety study, efficacy and pharmacokinetics were also explored.
The clinical trial enrolled patients at 7 dose levels ranging from 20 to 229 mg/m2. Of the 27 patients enrolled, 17 were evaluable for efficacy. Of these 17 patients, 7 (41%) achieved stable disease by RECIST and this included patients with colorectal, lung, appendiceal, liver and uterine cancers. Dose related activity was demonstrated at the higher dose levels (176 and 229 mg/m2). At these two highest dose levels, 4 of 5 evaluable patients (80%) achieved sustained stable disease by RECIST ranging from 5.6 months to 8 months, representative of disease control. Of these, a patient with non-small cell lung cancer at the highest dose level additionally showed non-index tumor shrinkage.
The safety assessment indicated that LOR-253 was well tolerated at all dose levels. The dose escalation was not limited by toxicity. The most common adverse event was Grade 1 or 2 fatigue seen in 3 patients. There was one Grade 3 toxicity, asymptomatic low blood phosphate level that was reversible by supplementation. The pharmacokinetic profile was consistent with the predictive profile seen preclinically, and the elimination profile and half-life in patients were suggestive of a very rapid distribution phase and prolonged retention.
"We are very encouraged by the results of this Phase 1 dose-escalation study, which demonstrate that LOR-253 is well tolerated without dose limiting toxicity at even the highest levels. More importantly, at higher doses we saw promising dose-related antitumor activity clearly attributable to the drug," said Dr. Aiping Young, Lorus' President and CEO. "Safety and pharmacokinetic data suggest the additional opportunity for more frequent dosing of LOR-253 and by combining with other agents we expect to demonstrate even greater antitumor activity in a larger follow-up Phase 2 clinical study."
Based on clinical benefits observed in this clinical trial together with the synergistic effects of LOR-253 in combination with docetaxel in preclinical non-small cell lung cancer studies, and the potential for no overlapping toxicities between LOR-253 and docetaxel, Lorus is designing a follow-up Phase 2 clinical trial of this regimen in patients with non-small cell lung cancer as the first indication for further development.
About LOR-253
LOR-253 represents a new class of anticancer agent that has shown selective and potent antitumor activity in preclinical investigations with a variety of human cancers, including colon cancer and non-small cell lung cancer, and has demonstrated an excellent therapeutic window due to its low toxicity. LOR-253 is a first-in-class small molecule that has been optimized to induce the novel tumor suppressor Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4), leading to cancer cell cycle arrest and apoptosis as well as inhibition of metastasis.
About Lorus
Lorus is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, research and development of novel therapeutics in cancer. Lorus' goal is to capitalize on its research, preclinical, clinical and regulatory expertise by developing new drug candidates that can be used, either alone, or in combination with other drugs, to successfully manage cancer. The Company also has expertise in antimicrobial drug discovery. Lorus Therapeutics Inc. is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol LOR.
Forward Looking Statements
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