CytRx Announces the Advancement of RIP140 siRNA Into Development for the Treatment of Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes
Posted on: Wednesday, 31 August 2005, 09:00 CDT
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CytRx Corporation announced today that it has determined to advance a small interfering RNA (siRNA) against RIP140 into animal studies for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity. In work conducted independently by Michael P. Czech, PhD, professor and chair of molecular medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS) and Dr. Malcolm Parker of the Imperial College London, these investigators have shown that suppression of RIP140 by gene-deletion or siRNA results in the acceleration of fat burning in animals and fat cells, respectively. In a paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science in 2004 by Dr. Parker, deletion of the RIP140 gene in mice by genetic knockout resulted in the lack of fat accumulation even when mice were fed a high fat diet. As part of its exclusive license agreements with UMMS and Imperial Innovations Ltd., CytRx is developing RNAi therapeutics against this drug target.
"We consider RIP140 to be a highly-validated 'prime-time' obesity drug target which is considered by many as non-druggable," said Steven A. Kriegsman, President and CEO of CytRx Corporation. "By using proprietary RNAi technology, we have been able to develop siRNA inhibitors that target RIP140 and increase fat burning. Our ultimate goal is to advance RIP140 siRNA to the clinic so we can treat obesity and type 2 diabetes."
"We look forward to continuing our work with CytRx to develop RNAi therapeutics that target RIP140 with the goal of regulating insulin signaling and other metabolic pathways to control glucose and fatty acid metabolism," commented Dr. Czech, who also serves as Chairman of the CytRx Metabolic Scientific Advisory Board.
Obesity has reached epidemic proportions globally, with more than 1 billion adults overweight -- at least 300 million of them clinically obese -- and is a major contributor to the global burden of chronic disease and disability, according to the World Health Organization. Obesity and being overweight pose a major risk for serious diet-related chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and stroke, and certain forms of cancer. Obesity related deaths rose 33% between 1990 and 2000 to an estimated 400,000, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association.
According to a recent Rand study, by 2020, approximately one in five healthcare dollars spent on people aged 50 to 70 will be due to obesity-related disabilities, if the current trend of overeating and inactivity continues.
About CytRx Corporation
CytRx Corporation is a biopharmaceutical research and development company engaged in the development of products, primarily in the area of small molecules and ribonucleic acid interference (RNAi), in a variety of therapeutic categories. The Company owns three clinical-stage compounds based on its small molecule molecular "chaperone" co-induction technology, as well as a targeted library of 500 small molecule drug candidates that may be used to screen for new drug candidates. The Company expects to enter a Phase II clinical trial with its lead orally-administered small molecule drug candidate, arimoclomol, for the treatment of ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). CytRx also has a broad-based strategic alliance with the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS) to develop novel compounds in the areas of ALS, obesity, type 2 diabetes and cytomegalovirus (CMV) using RNAi technology. CytRx also licensed from UMMS the rights to a DNA-based HIV vaccine technology currently in a Phase I clinical trial. The Company has a research program with Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard University's teaching hospital, to use RNAi technology to develop a drug for the treatment of ALS. For more information, visit CytRx's Web site at http://www.cytrx.com/.
About Imperial Innovations Ltd
Imperial Innovations is one of the UK's leading technology commercialisation companies, having created over 54 spin-out companies and concluded 74 license agreements.
Imperial Innovations is committed to the creation of wealth for its shareholders, and the company's mission is to match the outstanding quality of research at Imperial College London with excellence in technology transfer.
Website: http://www.imperialinnovations.co.uk/ About Imperial College London
Consistently rated in the top three UK university institutions, Imperial College London is a world leading science-based university whose reputation for excellence in teaching and research attracts students (10,000) and staff (5,000) of the highest international quality. Innovative research at the College explores the interface between science, medicine, engineering and management and delivers practical solutions that enhance the quality of life and the environment -- underpinned by a dynamic enterprise culture. Website: http://www.imperial.ac.uk/
About the University of Massachusetts Medical School
The University of Massachusetts Medical School, one of the fastest growing academic health centers in the country, has built a reputation as a world-class research institution, consistently producing noteworthy advances in clinical and basic research. The Medical School attracts more than $173 million in research funding annually, 80% of which comes from federal funding sources. Research funding enables UMMS scientists to explore human disease from the molecular level to large-scale clinical trials. Basic and clinical research leads to new approaches for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease. Visit http://www.umassmed.edu/ for additional information.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Examples of such statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the expected timing, scope and results of our clinical development and research programs, including the initiation of clinical trials, and statements regarding the potential benefits of our drug candidates and potential drug candidates. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from the events or results described in the forward-looking statements, including risks or uncertainties regarding regulatory approvals for clinical testing and the scope of the clinical testing that may be required by regulatory authorities for its molecular chaperone co-induction drug candidates, including arimoclomol, and other products, and the timing and outcomes of those tests, uncertainties related to the early stage of CytRx's diabetes, obesity, cytomegalovirus and ALS research, the need for future clinical testing of any RNAi-based products and small molecules that may be developed by CytRx, the significant time and expense that will be incurred in developing any of the potential commercial applications for CytRx's RNAi technology or small molecules, CytRx's need for additional capital to fund its ongoing working capital needs, including ongoing research and development expenses related to its molecular chaperone co-induction drug candidates, risks relating to the enforceability of any patents covering CytRx's products and to the possible infringement of third party patents by those products, and the impact of third party reimbursement policies on the use of and pricing for CytRx's products. Additional uncertainties and risks are described in CytRx's most recently filed SEC documents, such as its most recent annual report on Form 10-K, all quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and any current reports on Form 8-K filed since the date of the last Form 10-K. All forward-looking statements are based upon information available to CytRx on the date the statements are first published. CytRx undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
For Additional Information: CytRx Corporation University of Massachusetts Medical School Ed Umali Michael Cohen (310) 826-5648 (508) 856-2000 eumali@cytrx.com michael.cohen@umassmed.edu Imperial Innovations Ltd.: Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates Lucy Ahfong Investor Contact: Marketing Officer Jody Cain (jcain@lhai.com) +44 (0)20 7594 6644 Mariann Ohanesian (mohanesian@lhai.com) lahfong@imperial.ac.uk Media Contact: Mark Stuart (mstuart@lhai.com) (310) 691-7100
CytRx Corporation
CONTACT: Ed Umali of CytRx Corporation, +1-310-826-5648,eumali@cytrx.com; or Lucy Ahfong, Marketing Officer of Imperial Innovations,Ltd., +44 (0)20 7594 6644, lahfong@imperial.ac.uk; or Michael Cohen of theUniversity of Massachusetts Medical School, +1-508-856-2000,michael.cohen@umassmed.edu; or Investors, Jody Cain, jcain@lhai.com, orMariann Ohanesian, mohanesian@lhai.com, or Media, Mark Stuart,mstuart@lhai.com, all of Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates, +1-310-691-7100, forCytRx Corporation
Web site: http://www.imperialinnovations.co.uk/
Web site: http://www.cytrx.com/
Source: PRNewswire-FirstCall
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