Gemin X Pharmaceuticals to Present Mechanism-of-Action of Novel Anti-Cancer Compound at the 15th International Molecular Medicine Tri-Conference

MALVERN, Pa. & MONTREAL--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Gemin X Pharmaceuticals today announced that Dr. Anne Roulston will present at the Cambridge Healthtech Institute’s Molecular Medicine Tri-Conference on March 27, 2008 at 9:30 AM PDT at the Moscone Centre in San Francisco. Dr. Roulston will discuss the approach used to identify the key mechanism-of-action of GMX1778 and the new opportunities this information provides for the clinical development of GMX1777.

GMX1777 is a soluble prodrug of the pharmacologically active compound GMX1778. Gemin X discovered that GMX1778 functions by inhibiting nicotinamide phosphoribosyl transferase (NAMPRT), an enzyme that is a recognized anti-cancer target and is up-regulated in many cancers. GMX1778 limits the production of NAD⁺, abrogating the dependence of cancer cells on high energy metabolism and certain DNA repair pathways. Data derived from in vitro and in vivo studies suggest that GMX1777 exhibits potent mechanism-based efficacy against a wide range of human tumors. The compound is currently in a Phase I open-label, dose-escalation clinical trial in patients with refractory solid tumors and lymphomas.

About Gemin X Pharmaceuticals

Gemin X Pharmaceuticals specializes in the discovery and development of novel target-based cancer therapeutics. Gemin X's lead product, obatoclax (GX15-070), is a small molecule, pan-inhibitor of Bcl-2 proteins and is currently in Phase II clinical trials. Gemin X's second compound, GMX1777, is a potent small molecule that specifically inhibits nicotinamide phosphoribosyl transferase (NAMPRT), resulting in cancer cell death independently of the tumor suppressor p53. It is currently in a Phase I clinical trial in patients with refractory solid tumors and lymphomas. Gemin X is privately held and is located in Malvern, Pennsylvania and Montreal, Canada. www.geminx.com