Glactone Pharma will be presenting new exciting data at the annual meeting for AACR (American Association for Cancer Research) that demonstrate that the STAT3 inhibitor GPA500 suppresses the growth of prostate cancer cells resistant to second-generation anti-androgens. With GPA500 as a lead, Glactone Pharma has developed novel proprietary STAT3 inhibitors with improved drug like properties.

The scientific presentation “New derivative of galiellalactone inhibits the STAT3 activity and suppresses ENZ-resistant Prostate Cancer in vitro” (abstract number 728) will be presented on Sunday, April 19.

The data are the result of an ongoing collaboration between Glactone Pharma and the group of Professor Amina Zoubeidi at the world-renowned Vancouver Prostate Center in Canada. The study provides pre-clinical proof that targeting the STAT3 pathway using the small molecule inhibitor GPA500 reduces cell proliferation and androgen receptor (AR) activity of anti-androgen resistant cells and that targeting STAT3 may provide an effective method to treat patients who are resistant to the novel anti-androgen therapies.

Prostate cancer and drug resistance
Despite the development of new potent second-generation anti-androgens, like enzalutamide (ENZ), which prolongs survival in castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) patients, resistance to anti-androgen treatment rapidly occurs and new treatment modalities are needed. In preclinical models of ENZ-resistance, it has been shown that the STAT3 pathway is highly activated and that STAT3 is a promising target in anti-androgen resistant prostate cancer.

GPA500 and STAT3
GPA500 is a small molecule inhibitor of STAT3 with a unique mechanism of action. GPA500 directly inhibits STAT3 and reduces the proliferation of prostate cancer cells in vivo and in vitro. With GPA500 as a lead, Glactone Pharma has developed novel proprietary STAT3 inhibitors with improved drug like properties.

Glactone Pharma
Glactone Pharma is a biopharmaceutical company within PULS, Sweden´s largest private incubator in life sciences and is based on ground-breaking science from the University of Lund. Glactone Pharma has developed a pipeline of novel potential drugs that target the STAT3 transcription factor for the treatment of castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and other cancers. STAT3 is involved in tumor mediated immune suppression (Immune Oncology) and resistance to androgen inhibition therapy making it an ideal target in combination treatments. www.glactone.com.

The Vancouver Prostate Center (VPC)
VPC has a track record of success that has earned it a reputation as one of the world’s most respected cancer facilities. It is a National Centre of Excellence and a designated Centre of Excellence for Commercialization and Research. www.prostatecentre.com

For more information please contact:
Jan Törnell, Chairman of the Board, Glactone Pharma, +46 (0)70-676 00 08 or jan.tornell@pulsinvest.se
Martin Johansson, CEO Glactone Pharma, +1 705 768 0603 or martin.johansson@glactone.com