Teva and OncoGenex present Preclinical data on the activities of its antisense compound Custirsen (OGX-011/TV-1011) at the AACR Annual meeting 2011

Teva pharmaceutical industries Ltd.(NASDAQ:TEVA) and OncoGenex pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: OGXI) today announced that new preclinical (OGX-011/TV-1011) castrate resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) this week at the 102nd Annual meeting of the AACR were presented data from their investigational compound Custirsen. These data provide additional evidence for the clinical potential of the Custirsen, a drug for the production of clusterin, block, which is currently in phase III trials for CRPC.

Clusterin, is a cell survival protein over produced in several types of cancer and in response to many cancer treatments.

Results of the study show that epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) induced by the growth factor TGF-beta clusterin and regulates the transcription factor TWIST1 in prostate cancer cells. TGF-beta and TWIST1 are known to be important regulators of the EMT, the process in the cells undergo several biochemical changes resulting in cancer cell migration, invasion and metastasis. These results provide evidence to the mechanism of expression of clusterin and its importance in the EMT of cancer cells.

"This study showed that by the inhibition of clusterin, we can help reverse EMT, and appropriate drugs like Custirsen inhibit an important mechanism by which novel progression and patient outcomes, can improve", said Dr. Martin Gleave, Director of the Vancouver Prostate Centre at the TheUniversity of British Columbia and study researcher. "These results establish clusterin inhibition as a valid therapeutic target, and emphasize the importance of the ongoing phase III studies program demonstrates how to the clinical manifestation of the connection of mechanism,."

In addition, data were presented earlier this week showed that inhibitory effects of Custirsen on heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) in prostate cancer cells. Inhibition of HSP90 is when a new strategy for the treatment of prostate cancer will be investigated, and the addition of Custirsen can be improve, the activity of HSP90 inhibitors. Both abstracts, visit the AACR website.

This non-clinical data continue to support the ongoing phase III Custirsen development program prostate cancer:

-The prostate cancer SATURN trial, evaluate one permanent pain palliation for Custirsen in combination with docetaxel reprocessing as a second-line chemotherapy in 300 patients with CRPC benefit.

-The synergy of trial, review survival benefit for Custirsen in combination with docetaxel first-line treatment in about 800 patients with CRPC.

Source:
Teva pharmaceutical industries Ltd.
OncoGenex Pharma