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Somanta Announces Data to Be Presented on Angiolix for Targeting Breast Cancer Stem Cells at Stem Cells and Cancer Conference

Posted on: Wednesday, 31 January 2007, 18:00 CST

Somanta Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (OTCBB:SMPM), a cancer stem cell company focused on in-licensing differentiated oncology compounds and anti-cancer agents, will present preclinical data on Angiolix, a humanized monoclonal antibody, that recognizes a migrating adhesion molecule called Lactadherin, at the academic community sponsored Stem Cells and Cancer conference March 2-7 in Keystone, Colorado.

Angiolix binds to Lactadherin, which is thought to cause a VEGF-independent integrin receptor signaling cascade that blocks vascular endothelial cell proliferation. Accordingly, cancer stem cells can over-express VEGF and contribute to tumor vasculature growth needed to supply blood to cancer cells. Somanta's recent data suggests that tumor cells express Lactadherin and that Angiolix may be able to act to specifically target breast cancer stem cell and cause tumor regression by blocking the growth of tumor vasculature by its ability to neutralize Lactadherin-integrin receptor binding. Angiolix has been shown to achieve more than 75% growth inhibition of human breast cancer growing as xenografts in mouse models.

About Somanta

Somanta Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Somanta") is a cancer stem cell company focused on in-licensing differentiated oncology compounds and anti-cancer agents. To date, the Company has successfully in-licensed the rights to four products targeting eleven different cancer types, each of which has a different mode of action. Subject to the raising of sufficient capital, Somanta expects to initiate the following clinical development of its product candidates.

Somanta's lead clinical product is Sodium Phenylbutyrate (PB), for which it is scheduling and planning a Phase IIb clinical trial involving a central nervous system cancer, recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). In National Institute of Health (NIH) sponsored trials, PB has demonstrated the greatest activity in CNS cancers, several of which are "orphan" indications like GBM; however promising data has also emerged which suggests that PB may be an effective therapy for certain blood cancers and other solid tumors. PB has been well tolerated; its safety profile has generally been established due to its many years of clinical use in pediatrics for inherited urea cycle disorders. Somanta has entered into a letter of intent with Virium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. with respect to the joint development of all current and future formulations of PB for use both alone and in combination with other oncology treatments. The agreement with Virium, once executed, will provide Somanta substantial economics on a worldwide basis for the successful development of PB. PB is a differentiation inducing agent and an inhibitor of histone deacetylase (HDAC), which regulates cell growth and death.

Somanta's pre-clinical drug candidates include Alchemix, Prodrax and Angiolix. Alchemix is a pan-target inhibitor that is effective in tumor cells resistant to conventional chemotherapy by targeting and irreversibly binding to DNA. Prodrax, a technology platform, is a novel family of prodrugs that enables compounds to remain inert until they reach the hypoxic region of tumors where they become toxic, thus targeting tumor cells which are typically difficult to kill. Somanta believes Alchemix and Prodrax have the ability to overcome many different pathways of drug resistance, and will be studied in a broad range of cancers including lung, colon, ovarian and renal. Proof-of-principle studies have been completed in both of these compounds, and Phase-I dose escalation trials are being planned. Additionally, the Company is developing a humanized monoclonal antibody, Angiolix, which appears to induce cell death selectively to tumor blood vessels using a different mode of action than VEGF-oriented therapies. Somanta has prepared clinical development plans for all preclinical projects.

Certain statements contained herein are "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Because these statements include risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Specifically, factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: risks associated with pre-clinical and clinical developments in the biopharmaceutical industry in general and in Somanta's compounds under development in particular; the potential failure of Somanta's compounds under development to prove safe and effective for treatment of disease; uncertainties inherent in the early stage of Somanta's compounds under development; failure to successfully implement or complete clinical trials; failure to receive marketing clearance from regulatory agencies for our compounds under development; acquisitions, divestitures, mergers, licenses or strategic initiatives that change Somanta's business, structure or projections; the development of competing products; uncertainties related to Somanta's dependence on third parties and partners; and those risks described in Somanta's filings with the SEC. Somanta disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

Source: Business Wire

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