Semafore and MMRC Phase I Study Of Targeted PI3 Kinase (PI3K) Inhibitor

Semafore Pharmaceuticals Inc. and the Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium (MMRC) announced the dosing of the first patient in a Phase I study of Semafore's lead product candidate, SF1126, a targeted PI3 kinase (PI3K) inhibitor.

The single-agent, dose-escalating, multiple-dose trial, which will enroll up to 30 multiple myeloma patients at three MMRC member institutions in the United States and Canada, is designed to evaluate the safety and tolerability of SF1126 in patients who have failed at least two prior treatments. The Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University in Atlanta is the lead site for the study.

Kathy Giusti, founder and chief executive officer of the MMRC, as well as a myeloma patient, said: "PI3 kinase is one of the premier targets for oncology overall, as well as for myeloma specifically. We are proud to have partnered with Semafore to rapidly move SF1126 into a clinical trial for multiple myeloma."

Semafore is currently evaluating SF1126 as a single agent in a multi-center Phase I trial involving patients with refractory or advanced solid tumors. The company expects to report data from this trial this year.

About SF1126

SF1126 is a small molecule conjugate containing a pan-PI3K inhibitor that selectively inhibits all PI3K class IA isoforms and other key members of the PI3K superfamily, including DNA-PK and mTOR. A major factor in tumor resistance to approved chemotherapy agents is thought to be the activation of the PI3K/PTEN pathway. As a result, it is thought that inhibiting this pathway, via SF1126, could cause the resetting of sensitivity to approved agents and exhibit synergistic anticancer effects.

Semafore is a clinical stage drug discovery and development company focused on small molecule modulators of the PI3 kinase and PTEN cell signaling pathway, a promising target pathway for multiple disorders, including the company's focus -- cancer. Semafore is one of the first biopharmaceutical companies to focus on both PI3K and PTEN and has successfully discovered and is developing a portfolio of drug candidates addressing these targets. For more information see the company's website at http://www.SemaforePharma.com.