Aeterna Zentaris Presents Encouraging Updated Data on its LHRH Receptor-Targeted Disorazol Z Cytotoxic Conjugates at AACR Meeting

About this update from Cosciens Biopharma Inc.

[{"type":"text","content":"\n\n\n\n\n\nQUÉBEC CITY, April 10, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - Aeterna Zentaris Inc.\n (NASDAQ: AEZS) (TSX: AEZ) (the \"Company\") today presented encouraging\n updated proof-of-concept results for Disorazol Z cytotoxic conjugates,\n such as AEZS-125 and AEZS-138, in human ovarian and endometrial cancer\n xenograft models. Results further showed the compounds' high potential\n for the treatment of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (\"LHRH\")\n receptor positive tumors. Data were presented earlier today by Babette\n Aicher, PhD, the Company's Director of Preclinical Development, during\n a poster presentation at the American Association for Cancer Research\n (\"AACR\") annual meeting currently being held in Washington D.C. The\n study is funded through a grant from the German Ministry of Education\n and Research.\n\n\nJuergen Engel, PhD, Aeterna Zentaris President and CEO stated,\n \"Disorazol Z cytotoxic conjugates such as AEZS-125 and AEZS-138 are an\n extension of our AEZS-108 innovative LHRH-targeted platform in\n oncology. These results confirm the encouraging data presented at the\n ENA Symposium in November 2012, and will enable us to better select a\n specific drug candidate for further preclinical development expected to\n start during this quarter.\"\n\n\nConclusions\n\n\nConjugates of D-Lys6-LHRH and Disorazol Z retained strong binding to the LHRH receptor and\n showed potent inhibition of tubulin polymerization. Cellular\n cytotoxicity of the conjugates was in the low nanomolar EC50 range. Increased cytotoxicity in cells over-expressing the LHRH\n receptor, support receptor targeting as a mechanism of action;\n\n\nAEZS-125 and AEZS-138 have been identified as the most promising\n candidates;\n\n\nThe LHRH receptor-dependent efficacies of Disorazol Z - D-Lys6-LHRH conjugates in vitro and in mouse xenograft models that were presented, support the\n principle of tumor targeting by the LHRH receptor as already employed\n by the drug candidate AEZS-108, which is currently in a Phase 3 study\n in endometrial cancer and in Phase 2 studies in triple-negative breast\n cancer, bladder cancer and prostate cancer.\n\n\nThe poster, \"LHRH receptor targeting as mechanism of anti-tumor activity for\n cytotoxic conjugates of Disorazol Z with the LHRH receptor agonistic\n peptide D-Lys6-LHRH\", B. Aicher et al. can be viewe...

More updates from Cosciens Biopharma Inc.