Endocyte to Announce Updated Data on EC1456 and EC1169 at the 2017 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind., May 26, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Endocyte, Inc. (NASDAQ:ECYT), a leader in developing targeted small molecule drug conjugates (SMDCs) and companion imaging agents for personalized therapy, today announced that two posters will be presented on its lead, clinical-stage assets, EC1456 and EC1169, at the 2017 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting being held June 2 - 6, 2017, in Chicago.

Updated data will be presented on EC1456-01, a two part phase 1 dose escalation (Part A) and expansion (Part B) study. The presentation includes data for 87 Part A treated patients with advanced solid tumors and 6 Part B treated patients with FR-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) as of the data cutoff on May 18, 2017. All patients were imaged to assess folate receptor expression with ^99mTc-etarfolatide (FR expression not an eligibility criteria for Part A). Preliminary data from our first patient enrolled in the EC1456 ovarian surgical study, EC1456-02, will also be presented.

An update also will be provided for EC1169-01, a two-part phase 1 dose escalation (Part A) and expansion (Part B) study in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). The presentation includes data for the expansion phase (Part B) for 24 taxane-exposed mCRPC patients and 16 taxane-naïve mCRPC patients as of the data cutoff on May 15, 2017. All patients were imaged to assess PSMA expression with ^99mTc-EC0652 (PSMA expression not an eligibility criteria).

The posters will be available on Endocyte’s website following presentation at the conference.

Presentations are as follows:

About EC1456

EC1456 is an investigational therapeutic SMDC constructed of a high affinity FR-targeting ligand conjugated through a spacer and bioreleasable linker system to a potent cytotoxic microtubule inhibitor, tubulysin B hydrazide (TubBH). Patient FR-status is determined using the investigational companion imaging agent, etarfolatide. EC1456 is currently being evaluated in a phase 1 study in patients with advanced solid tumors (Part A) and FR-positive NSCLC (Part B) (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01999738) and a phase 1 exploratory study in patients with ovarian cancer undergoing surgery (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03011320).

About EC1169

EC1169 is an investigational therapeutic SMDC constructed of a high affinity prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeting ligand conjugated through a bioreleasable linker system to a potent microtubule inhibitor, TubBH. Patient PSMA-status is determined using the investigational companion imaging agent, EC0652. EC1169 is currently being evaluated in a phase 1 study in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02202447).

About Endocyte

Endocyte is a biopharmaceutical company and leader in developing targeted therapies for the treatment of cancer and other serious diseases.  Endocyte uses its proprietary drug conjugation technology to create novel SMDCs and companion imaging agents for personalized targeted therapies.  The company's SMDCs actively target receptors that are over-expressed on diseased cells, relative to healthy cells.  This targeted approach is designed to enable the treatment of patients with highly active drugs at greater doses, delivered more frequently and over longer periods of time than would be possible with the untargeted drug alone.  The companion imaging agents are designed to identify patients whose disease over-expresses the target of the therapy and who are therefore more likely to benefit from treatment. For additional information, please visit Endocyte's website at www.endocyte.com.

Endocyte Forward-Looking Statement

Certain of the statements made in this press release are forward looking, such as those relating to the company’s development programs and upcoming milestones. Actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected or implied in these forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause such a difference include risks that the company may experience delays in the completion of its clinical trials (whether caused by competition, adverse events, patient enrollment rates, shortage of clinical trial materials, regulatory issues or other factors); risks that data from its clinical trials may not be indicative of subsequent clinical trial results; risks related to the safety and efficacy of the company’s product candidates; risks that early stage preclinical data may not be indicative of subsequent data when expanded to additional pre-clinical models or to subsequent clinical data; risks that evolving competitive activity and intellectual property landscape may impair the company's ability to capture value for the technology; estimates of the potential markets for its product candidates; estimates of the capacity of manufacturing and other facilities required to support its product candidates; projected cash needs; and expected future revenues, operations, expenditures and cash position. More information about the risks and uncertainties faced by Endocyte, Inc. is contained in the company’s periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Endocyte, Inc. disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

CONTACT: Stephanie Ascher, Stern Investor Relations, Inc., (212) 362-1200, stephanie@sternir.com