AEGERA REPORTS RESULTS OF PHASE I ONCOLOGY STUDY

Aegera Therapeutics has reported preliminary results of a Phase I clinical trial for the XIAP antisense therapeutic AEG35156. The study's objectives were to establish the maximum tolerated dose of AEG35156 given as a seven-day continuous infusion every three weeks, determine the pharmacokinetic profile of AEG35156, evaluate XIAP inhibition in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and, where feasible, in tumor cells, and document antitumor activity.

AEG35156 is an inhibitor of the X-linked Inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP), a protein that is proprietary to Aegera. XIAP is a pivotal inhibitor of apoptosis induced by both intrinsic and extrinsic death cues. Most cancer cell lines over-express XIAP, and high levels of XIAP are strongly correlated with poor prognosis in multiple cancers and leukemias.