Interim clinical results for MGCD0103

November 15, 2005 - MethylGene Inc. (TSX:MYG), today announced interim results regarding MGCD0103, its isotype-selective HDAC inhibitor for cancer, during the 18th EORTC-NCI-AACR (European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer, National Cancer Institute, American Association for Cancer Research) International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics in Philadelphia. Ongoing clinical data for MGCD0103 in solid tumours demonstrated prolonged disease stabilization in three patients. Of particular note, is the apparent lack of significant hematological and cardiac side effects with MGCD0103. Data disclosed at the conference included the chemical structure of MGCD0103, the specific HDAC isoforms targeted by MGCD0103, the synergistic antitumour activity of MGCD0103 combined with gemcitabine in pancreatic and lung cancer models in vivo, and the synergistic anticancer activity of MGCD0103 with interferon alpha in multiple myeloma cell lines.

As described in Poster A172, "Epigenetic Regulation of IFNs Activity in Multiple Myeloma by the Isotype-Selective HDAC Inhibitor MGCD0103," the combination of MGCD0103 with interferon alpha synergistically induced apoptotic death of multiple myleoma cell lines.

Source: http://www.methylgene.com