Basilea initiates phase 1/2a oncology study with oral formulation of tumor checkpoint controller BAL101553 - Seite 2

BAL101553 destabilizes the microtubule network involved in cell proliferation and has demonstrated its ability to stop tumor growth by a dual action on tumor cell proliferation and tumor vascularization through a mechanism different from conventional microtubule-targeting agents such as taxanes.

Data presented at the 2015 American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting in Philadelphia (USA) show that BAL101553 induces the formation of the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC), which promotes tumor cell death when the microtubule spindle is not properly formed.[2] Furthermore, the presence of SAC components, including BubR1, was shown to be associated with response to BAL101553 in a range of tumor models. The data presented at AACR confirmed that the sensitivity of human cancer cell lines to BAL101553 correlates with the presence of an intact SAC, supporting the hypothesis that prediction of cancer response to BAL101553 may lay in its tumor checkpoint control function. The utility of SAC components as predictive biomarkers to identify patients likely to respond to BAL101553 is being explored in the clinical program.

About Basilea

Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. is a biopharmaceutical company developing products that address increasing resistance and non-response to current treatment options in the therapeutic areas of bacterial infections, fungal infections and cancer. The company uses the integrated research, development and commercial operations of its subsidiary Basilea Pharmaceutica International Ltd. to develop and commercialize innovative pharmaceutical products to meet the medical needs of patients with serious and potentially life-threatening conditions. Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland and listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (SIX: BSLN). Additional information can be found at Basilea's website www.basilea.com.

Disclaimer

This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements concerning Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. and its business. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.