Oncopeptides Initiates Phase II Clinical Study with Melflufen in the Treatment of Multiple Myeloma Patients

Stockholm (ots/PRNewswire) -

Oncopeptides AB, a company working to enhance oncology therapies,
today announced that the first patient has been dosed as part of a
Phase II study in multiple myeloma patients with its drug candidate
melflufen (previously called J1).

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130521/613959 )

The trial is an open-label Phase II study designed to determine
the level of efficacy of melflufen in combination with dexamethasone,
for late stage, relapsing or relapsing/refractory patients. The
primary end point is, best response in accordance with the
International Myeloma Working Group criteria during up to eight
cycles of treatment.

The trial is being carried out across four centers in Europe (the
Netherlands, Italy, Denmark and Sweden) and two in the USA.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Johan Harmenberg commented, "Cytotoxic
compounds form an integral part of combination treatment in malignant
disease. Melphalan is part of the standard of care in multiple
myeloma and improving this component with melflufen should result in
significant patient benefit."

Multiple myeloma is the second most common hematological cancer
and manifests from an abnormality of plasma cells, usually in the
bone marrow. Worldwide, more than 180,000 people are living with
multiple myeloma and approximately 86,000 new cases are diagnosed
annually (International Agency for Research on Cancer).

About Oncopeptides AB

Oncopeptides is a clinical stage pharmaceutical development
company working to enhance oncology therapies, by creating
cytosuperiors of existing basic cytotoxic compounds.

Oncopeptides is targeting multiple myeloma as a first indication
with its lead compound, named melflufen which is a cytosuperior of
the chemotherapeutic alkylator melphalan.

A family of enzymes that is overexpressed at very high levels in
cancer cells, such as multiple myeloma cells, cleaves melflufen so
its active metabolite is entrapped at high concentrations within the
diseased cells. This results in partially targeted delivery of the
chemotherapeutic compound to the cancer cells, and thereby better
treatment of the disease.

Primary cancer cells from patients representing twenty different
types of cancers have been studied, including multiple myeloma, with
melflufen showing 50- to 100-fold higher anti-tumor potency over
melphalan.

For further information please contact:

Jakob Lindberg CEO
Tel: +46(0)705-695-471
e-mail: jakob.lindberg@oncopeptides.se

Web: http://www.oncopeptides.se

Photo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130521/613959

ots Originaltext: Oncopeptides AB
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