MEMPHIS, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GTx, Inc. (Nasdaq: GTXI) today announced the publication in the journal Human Molecular Genetics of results from preclinical studies supporting the potential efficacy of the Company’s SARMs, and in particular GTx-026, for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) treatment. DMD is a rare genetic disorder characterized by progressive muscle degeneration and weakness, affecting approximately 18,000 boys in the United States.
Studies examined the treatment of castrated wildtype mice, x-linked muscular dystrophy (mdx) mice, and dystrophin and utrophin double mutant (mdx-dm) mice with GTx-026.
- In mdx mice, compared to vehicle-treated mice, GTx-026 treatment led to increased body weight (62% vs. 31%), lean mass (60% vs 20%), grip strength, and improved cardiac and pulmonary function
- In mdx-dm mice, compared to vehicle-treated mice, GTx-026 led to improved body weight, lean mass, and grip strength above baseline levels, leading to a 50 to 70% improvement in survival
Other SARMs in the Company’s portfolio, GTx-024 (enobosarm) and GTx-027, showed similar positive effects on muscle mass, function, and histological characteristics.
“DMD typically afflicts boys around three to five years of age followed by declining physical functions before attaining puberty. Current treatment options for DMD rely on corticosteroids to reduce inflammation, but unfortunately the prolonged use of corticosteroids results in hyperglycemia, osteoporosis, and muscle wasting, which are all counterproductive in this disease,” said Ramesh Narayanan, Ph.D., Director, Center for Cancer Drug Discovery and Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Tennessee and a consultant for GTx, Inc. “We hypothesize that an androgen receptor agonist may reverse musculoskeletal complications and extend survival in these boys, and in preclinical models, GTx-026 increased muscle mass, function, and survival, therefore supporting the concept of a SARM to treat DMD-affected boys.”
The Company’s preclinical studies have continued to confirm beneficial effects from SARMs in mice genetically altered to simulate DMD, compared to control groups. The Company is pursuing a potential strategic collaboration with biopharma companies experienced in orphan drug development to advance the development of a SARM for the treatment of DMD.
The peer-reviewed article, “Androgen Receptor Agonists Increase Lean Mass, Improve Cardiopulmonary Functions, and Extend Survival in Preclinical Models of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy” appears in the journal Human Molecular Genetics (April 27, 2017).
About SARMs
A selective androgen receptor modulator, or
SARM, is a class of compound that can bind to the androgen receptor, but
is not actually a steroid hormone. Enobosarm, one of the Company’s
SARMs, has been shown to increase muscle mass in patients with non-small
cell lung cancer, and is currently being evaluated as a possible
treatment of stress urinary incontinence in postmenopausal women.
Enobosarm has been evaluated in 24 completed or ongoing clinical trials,
enrolling over 1,700 subjects, of which approximately 1,200 subjects
were treated with enobosarm at doses ranging from 0.1 mg to 100 mg.
About DMD
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), is a rare,
genetic disorder characterized by progressive muscle degeneration and
weakness. It is caused by mutation(s) in dystrophin, a protein that
helps to keep muscle cells intact. Symptom onset is in early childhood,
usually between the ages of three and five, and the disease primarily
affects boys. Until recently, boys with DMD did not survive much beyond
their teen years or twenties, but with advances in cardiac and
respiratory care, survival into the early thirties is becoming more
common.
About GTx
GTx, Inc., headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., is a
biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development and
commercialization of small molecules for the treatment of cancer,
including treatments for breast and prostate cancer, and other serious
medical conditions.
Forward-Looking Information is Subject to Risk and Uncertainty
This
press release contains forward-looking statements based upon GTx’s
current expectations. Forward-looking statements involve risks and
uncertainties, and include, but are not limited to, statements relating
to the preclinical and potential future development of selective
androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) for the treatment of Duchenne
muscular dystrophy (DMD), as well as GTx’s ongoing Phase 2
proof-of-concept clinical trial of enobosarm (GTx-024) to treat stress
urinary incontinence (SUI). GTx’s actual results and the timing of
events could differ materially from those anticipated in such
forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties,
which include, without limitation, the risks (i) that GTx’s evaluation
of a SARM for the treatment of DMD is at a very early stage and it is
possible that GTx may determine not to move forward with any meaningful
development of the program; (ii) that if GTx determines to move forward
with additional development of enobosarm for the treatment of SUI
or if GTx does determine to move forward with meaningful development of
a SARM for the treatment of DMD, GTx will require additional funding,
which it may be unable to raise, in which case, GTx may fail to realize
the anticipated benefits from its SARM technology; (iii) that GTx may
not be successful in developing a SARM for the treatment of DMD to
advance into clinical studies or the clinical product candidate may fail
such clinical studies; (iv) that the clinical trial of enobosarm to
treat SUI being conducted by GTx may not be completed on schedule, or at
all, or may otherwise be suspended or terminated; (v) related to the
difficulty and uncertainty of pharmaceutical product development,
including the time and expense required to conduct preclinical and
clinical trials and analyze data, and the uncertainty of preclinical and
clinical success; and (vi) related to issues arising during the
uncertain and time-consuming regulatory process, including the risk that
GTx may not receive any approvals to advance the clinical development of
one or more potential clinical SARM candidates. In addition, GTx will
continue to need additional funding and may be unable to raise capital
when needed, which would force GTx to delay, reduce or eliminate its
product candidate development programs and potentially cease operations.
GTx’s actual results and the timing of events could differ materially
from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of
these risks and uncertainties. You should not place undue reliance on
these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of
this press release. GTx’s annual report on Form 10-K filed March 24,
2017, contains under the heading, “Risk Factors,” a more comprehensive
description of these and other risks to which GTx is subject. GTx
expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly
any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained
herein to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or
any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such
statements are based.
