Rexahn Pharmaceuticals to present pre-clinical data for anti-cancer compound at AACR Annual Meeting

Rexahn Pharmaceuticals Inc (AMEX: RNN) announced it will present pre-clinical data on its anti-cancer compound RX-8243 at the American Association for Cancer Research's (AACR) 101st Annual Meeting on April 17 2010 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC.

During the “Experimental and Molecular Therapeutics” session, the company will display the data entitled “Characterization of a novel small molecule with potent anticancer activity”.

RX-8243 is a novel isoquinolinamine analogue that inhibits Ark1 (Aurora A) kinase and other Ser/Thr kinases implicated in cancer progression.

According to Rexahn, pre-clinical studies demonstrated that RX-8243 blocked tumor growth in xenograft models at low nanomolar concentrations. These studies also have shown RX-8243 to be more effective against paclitaxel, gemcitabine and cisplatin-resistant cancer cell lines when compared to the original cytotoxic cancer drugs, the company states.

RX-8243 is part of a robust pipeline of pre-clinical anti-cancer compounds that Rexahn has developed to provide higher efficacy and to improve the quality of life and survival of patients.

Rexahn is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, commercializing oncology and central nervous system (CNS) therapeutics. Rexahn’s core scientific expertise is in signal transduction; this has produced a drug portfolio with significant potential clinical value.

The company is working on a variety of therapeutics for cancer, CNS disorders, sexual dysfunction and other unmet medical needs. The company currently has three drug candidates in Phase II clinical trials, Archexin, Serdaxin, and Zoraxel and a robust pipeline of preclinical compounds to treat multiple cancers and CNS disorders.

One of the company most advanced development products is Serdaxin, which according to Rexahn prevents neuronal death which is a disease mechanism implicated in many brain disorders from depression to Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. The treatment protects dopamine-releasing neurons from environmental damage. Serdaxin directly targets the disease mechanism by slowing or halting the progression of the disease, Rexahn state.

Separately, Rexahn is currently investigating Serdaxin as a treatment for depression in Phase II clinical trials.

The company has multiple clinical programs planned for investigating Serdaxin in the treatment of anxiety disorders, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and neurodegenerative illnesses, neuro-protection and bio-defense uses.

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