DGAP-News: Press Release: 4SC Discovery to host Symposium 'Drug Discovery in the Age of Epigenetics' on 24 September 2012
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Press Release: 4SC Discovery to host Symposium 'Drug Discovery in the
Age of Epigenetics' on 24 September 2012
21.09.2012 / 10:39
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Press Release
4SC Discovery to host Symposium 'Drug Discovery in the Age of Epigenetics'
on 24 September 2012
Leading international scientists from industry and academia discuss novel
strategies of epigenetic tumour therapy
Planegg-Martinsried, 21 September 2012 - 4SC AG (Frankfurt, Prime Standard:
VSC), a discovery and development company of targeted small molecule drugs
for autoimmune diseases and cancer, announced today that its fully-owned
subsidiary 4SC Discovery GmbH, which specialises in the discovery and
early-stage research of novel therapeutic compounds will host a conference
on 'Drug Discovery in the Age of Epigenetics' on 24 September 2012.
On the 1-day symposium to be held in Martinsried near Munich, Germany,
about 40 selected international scientists from academia and industry
(participation on personal invitation only) will discuss questions of the
effects of epigenetic modifications on cancer origination and
proliferation, and, based on these findings, about novel strategies to
effectively treat cancer.
Speakers include some of the leading experts in the field of epigenetic
cancer research in Europe: Professor Nick La Thangue (University of
Oxford), who will give the key note lecture about 'HDAC inhibitors and
predictive biomarkers'; Professor Martin Göttlicher (Helmholtz Institute,
Munich); and Professor Steven A. Johnsen from the University Medical Center
Hamburg-Eppendorf. The programme will be completed by presentations of
industry projects showing promising novel approaches in epigenetic drug
discovery and development in oncology, including Dr Ismael Moarefi (Chief
Scientific Officer of Crelux), Dr Daniel Vitt (Chief Scientific Officer of
4SC) and Dr Bernd Hentsch (Chief Development Officer of 4SC). The full
agenda of the symposium can be viewed at www.4sc-discovery.de.
Epigenetic regulation in tumour cells is a topic which is currently
intensively discussed amongst oncologists involved in drug discovery and
clinical development, as it opens up unprecedented intervention
possibilities for new therapeutic concepts. An altered epigenetic signature
is a hallmark of cancer cells. This can be addressed by novel therapeutic
substances which reprogram transcription events in aberrant (abnormal)
cells. The subsequent alteration of signalling pathways by novel therapies
can lead to sensitization to conventional therapeutics and/or to apoptosis
(tumour cell death). Moreover, such compounds may allow the pinpoint
targeting of cancer stem cells, another emerging topic in oncology. New
biomarkers directly monitor the effectiveness of the therapeutic
intervention. They may allow for a more reliable stratification of patients
(personalised medicine) and a better prediction of the course of disease
and the effectiveness of the therapy, as well as additional treatment
options. This can provide new opportunities and challenges for the drug
discovery and development process which have to be seized and met with a
new attitude by the pharmaceutical industry.
Dr Stefan Strobl, Managing Director of 4SC Discovery GmbH, comments: 'We
are delighted that we have been able to win such well renowned speakers for
this year's symposium, giving us an ideal opportunity for fruitful
discussions between academia and industry on the highest scientific level.
The symposium will also give us a platform for presenting 4SC's own drug
discovery and development activities in this highly innovative field of
research, which is currently and in the future definitely one of the most
promising in oncology.'
Ends
About 4SC's epigenetic research and development portfolio in oncology
4SC is focusing strongly on epigenetic drug research and development and
has several epigenetic drug candidates both in clinical development and in
early-stage research.
Resminostat (4SC-201), 4SC's lead oncology compound, is an oral
pan-histone-deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor with an innovative epigenetic
mechanism of action that potentially enables the compound to be deployed as
a novel, targeted tumour therapy for a broad spectrum of oncological
indications, as a monotherapy and in particular in combination with other
cancer drugs. HDAC inhibitors have been shown to modify the DNA structure
of tumour cells to cause their differentiation and programmed cell death
(apoptosis) and are therefore considered to offer a mechanism of action
that has the particular potential to halt tumour progression and induce
tumour regression. Additionally, resminostat is also assumed to induce what
is known as tumour cell (re-)sensitisation to other anti-cancer compounds.
This process can suppress or reverse certain tolerance and resistance
mechanisms which tumour cells often develop against cancer drugs.
Therefore, supplementary treatment with resminostat can be expected to
restore or significantly improve the efficacy of a previously administered
cancer therapy which was no longer effective. Resminostat is currently
being investigated in a broad clinical Phase II programme in the three
indications liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma, HCC), Hodgkin's
Lymphoma (HL), and colorectal cancer (CRC).
4SC-202 is the 4SC's second epigenetic drug candidate in clinical
development. 4SC-202 is an orally administered selective class I
deacetylase (DAC) inhibitor with a unique combination of anti-cancer mode
of actions, namely epigenetic regulation and targeting of stemness. Via
epigenetic modifications, 4SC-202 particularly mediates modulation of the
Wnt signaling pathway and thus provokes the inhibition of properties which
are essential for cancer stem cells. Proliferation inhibition with
subsequent induction of apoptosis in cancer cell lines is the consequence
of a strong G2/M arrest. These properties translate into excellent
effectiveness in in vivo cancer models. Currently, 4SC-202 is being
investigated in a Phase I clinical study in patients with advanced
haematological indications.
Moreover, in its research and drug discovery activities in the field of
epigenetics, 4SC Discovery GmbH engages in the discovery of novel drug
candidates for several epigenetic targets including peptidyl arginine
deiminases (PADs), MSK (mitogen- and stress-activated protein kinase) and
protein deacetylase (DAC).
About 4SC Discovery GmbH
4SC Discovery GmbH is a wholly-owned subsidiary of 4SC AG that offers
technologies and tailored research services covering drug discovery and
chemical optimisation through to a preclinical development candidate. The
company focuses its services on offering customers in the pharmaceutical,
biotech and chemical industries the cost and time-to-market benefits that
result from a drug discovery and optimisation process based on a powerful,
computer-aided, screening and discovery platform. In addition, 4SC
Discovery also applies its comprehensive pharmacological expertise to
investigating new compounds in the areas of cancer and autoimmune disease -
a strategy also intended to further enhance the clinical development
pipeline for the 4SC Group. 4SC Discovery aims to engage in partnerships
with pharmaceutical and biotech companies to accelerate the development of
its research programmes and further advance their commercialisation.
About 4SC Group
The group managed by 4SC AG discovers and develops targeted small-molecule
drugs for the treatment of diseases with a high unmet medical need in
various autoimmune and cancer indications. These drugs are intended to
provide patients with innovative treatment options that are more tolerable
and efficacious than existing therapies, and provide a better quality of
life. At the end of June 2012, 4SC Group had 90 employees. The company was
founded in 1997. 4SC AG has been listed on the Prime Standard of the
Frankfurt Stock Exchange since December 2005.
Legal Note
This document may contain projections or estimates relating to plans and
objectives relating to our future operations, products, or services; future
financial results; or assumptions underlying or relating to any such
statements; each of which constitutes a forward-looking statement subject
to risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. Actual
results could differ materially, depending on a number of factors.
For more information please visit www.4sc.com and www.4sc-discovery.de or
contact:
4SC AG
Jochen Orlowski, Corporate Communications&Investor Relations
jochen.orlowski(at)4sc.com, Tel.: +49 (0) 89 70 07 63 66
MC Services
Mareike Mohr
mareike.mohr(at)mc-services.eu, Tel.: +49 (0) 89 21 02 28 40
The Trout Group
Chad Rubin
Crubin(at)troutgroup.com, Tel.: +1 646 378 2947
End of Corporate News
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Language: English
Company: 4SC AG
Am Klopferspitz 19a
82152 Martinsried
Germany
Phone: +49 (0)89 7007 63-0
Fax: +49 (0)89 7007 63-29
E-mail: public(at)4sc.com
Internet: www.4sc.de
ISIN: DE0005753818
WKN: 575381
Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard);
Freiverkehr in Berlin, Düsseldorf, München, Stuttgart
End of News DGAP News-Service
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