BUFFALO, N.Y., April 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Athenex, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATNX), a global biopharmaceutical company
dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of novel therapies for the treatment of cancer and related
conditions, today announced that it has received Orphan Drug Designation from the U.S. FDA for Oraxol for the treatment of
angiosarcoma. Oraxol, an innovative development in the treatment of cancer, is a novel oral formulation of paclitaxel, a very
effective and commonly used chemotherapy treatment for many cancers, combined with HM30181A (a novel orally non-absorbable
gastrointestinal tract P-glycoprotein pump inhibitor).
Rudolf Kwan, Athenex’s Chief Medical Officer, commented, “We are pleased to receive Orphan Drug Designation for
Oraxol for the treatment of angiosarcoma, a form of malignant blood vessel cancer. This designation represents our commitment to
expand the use of Oraxol, in which the active pharmaceutical ingredient is paclitaxel, to additional clinical indications based on
the known efficacy of paclitaxel and the observed improved pharmacokinetic profile of Oraxol. This is a parallel development with
our clinical studies in metastatic breast cancer and gastric cancer, in which Oraxol has already shown promising efficacy and
safety profile. We will be initiating the angiosarcoma clinical study soon.”
The FDA grants Orphan Drug status to support development of medicines for the treatment of diseases that that
affect fewer than 200,000 people in the United States. Orphan Drug Designation may provide certain benefits, including a seven-year
period of market exclusivity if the drug is approved, tax credits for qualified clinical trials and an exemption from FDA
application fees.
Athenex previously announced that it had met its enrollment target for the second interim analysis for the Oraxol
Phase III clinical trial for metastatic breast cancer and is scheduled to conduct this interim analysis in the third quarter of
2018. Additionally, the Company announced the receipt of the Promising Innovative Medicine designation for Oraxol by the United
Kingdom Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency on December 27, 2017, qualifying Athenex to apply for Step II of the
Early Access to Medicines Scheme to provide patients early access to Oraxol prior to receiving marketing authorization. Athenex
also recently announced that the Chinese FDA has allowed the Investigational New Drug application for Oraxol on January 8, 2018.
Athenex also announced initial results of a clinical study in Taiwan in patients with metastatic breast cancer, as well as results
of the first cohort of patients in a study in Taiwan on the combination with ramucirumab (Cyramza, Eli Lilly’s monoclonal antibody
against VEGFR2) in patients with gastric cancer.
Oraxol was initially discovered by Hanmi Pharmaceuticals and licensed to Athenex, in territories including North
and Latin Americas, Europe, Japan, greater China and Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Athenex is leading the registration
effort from IND and clinical studies.
About Athenex, Inc.
Founded in 2003, Athenex, Inc. is a global clinical stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to becoming a leader
in the discovery and development of next generation drugs for the treatment of cancer. Athenex is organized around three platforms,
including an Oncology Innovation Platform, a Commercial Platform and a Global Supply Chain Platform. Athenex’s Oncology Innovation
Platform generates clinical candidates through an extensive understanding of kinases, including novel binding sites and human
absorption biology, as well as through the application of Athenex’s proprietary research and selection processes in the lab. The
Company’s current clinical pipeline is derived from two different platform technologies Athenex calls Orascovery and Src Kinase
Inhibition. The Orascovery platform is based on the novel oral P-glycoprotein pump inhibitor molecule HM30181A, through which
Athenex is able to facilitate oral absorption of traditional cytotoxics, which Athenex believes may offer improved patient
tolerability and efficacy as compared to IV administration of the same cytotoxics. The Orascovery platform was developed by Hanmi
Pharmaceuticals and licensed exclusively to Athenex for all major worldwide territories except Korea, which is retained by Hanmi.
The Src Kinase Inhibition platform refers to novel small molecule compounds that have multiple mechanisms of action, including the
inhibition of the activity of Src Kinase and the inhibition of tubulin polymerization during cell division. Athenex believes the
combination of these mechanisms of action provides a broader range of anti-cancer activity as compared to either mechanism of
action alone. Athenex’s employees worldwide are dedicated to improving the lives of cancer patients by creating more active and
tolerable treatments. Athenex has offices in Buffalo and Clarence, New York; Cranford, New Jersey; Houston, Texas; Chicago,
Illinois; Hong Kong; Taipei, Taiwan and multiple locations in Chongqing, China.
Forward-Looking Statement Disclaimer/Safe Harbor Statement
Except for historical information, all of the statements, expectations, and assumptions contained in this press
release are forward-looking statements. Actual results might differ materially from those explicit or implicit in the
forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include: the development stage
of our primary clinical candidates and related risks involved in drug development, clinical trials, regulation, manufacturing and
commercialization; our reliance on third parties, including Almirall for success in certain areas of Athenex’s business; need to
raise additional capital; competition; intellectual property risks; risks relating to doing business in China; and the other risk
factors set forth from time to time in our SEC filings, copies of which are available for free in the Investor Relations section of
our website at http://ir.athenex.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=254495&p=irol-sec or upon request from our Investor Relations Department.
We assume no obligation and do not intend to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law.
CONTACT:
Jim Polson
Tel: +1-716-427-2952
Athenex, Inc.
