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Contact:
GTx, Inc. Carney Duntsch
Investor and Media Relations
901-523-9700 ext. 170
cduntsch@gtxinc.com |
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Burns McClellan, Inc.
Jonathan M. Nugent (investors)
Kathy L. Jones-Nugent, Ph.D. (media)
212-213-0006 |
GTx, Inc. Initiates Pivotal Phase III Clinical
Trial of Acapodene™ for the Treatment of Side Effects of Androgen
Deprivation Therapy in Men with Prostate Cancer (November 10, 2003)
Memphis, Tenn., November 10, 2003 - GTx, Inc.,
a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development
and commercialization of therapeutics primarily for serious men's
health conditions and diseases, announced today the initiation of
a pivotal Phase III clinical trial of ACAPODENE™ (Toremifene
Citrate) tablets to reduce the incidence of skeletal fractures and
other serious complications of androgen deprivation therapy in men
who have advanced prostate cancer. We expect to enroll 1,200 patients
in this 24 month, placebo controlled pivotal study in the United
States.
The standard medical treatment for the more than
675,000 men in the United States with advanced prostate cancer is
androgen deprivation therapy. Androgen deprivation is accomplished
either surgically by removal of the testes or chemically by treatment
with LHRH agonists such as Lupron® and Zoladex®. Side effects
associated with LHRH agonists include bone loss leading to osteoporosis
and skeletal fractures, hot flashes and gynecomastia. We believe
that Acapodene™ may potentially treat these serious side effects
of LHRH agonists.
ACAPODENE™ (Toremifene Citrate) Tablets
Acapodene™ is a nonsteroidal SERM, a small molecule that binds and
selectively modulates the estrogen receptor. SERMs have been shown
to stimulate estrogen receptors in bone and block estrogen receptors
in the breast. SERMs may also potentially block estrogen receptors
in the prostate. GTx is evaluating Acapodene™ for the treatment
of certain side effects of androgen deprivation such as osteoporosis
and skeletal fractures, hot flashes and gynecomastia in men who
have advanced prostate cancer. GTx has licensed the right to develop,
market and distribute toremifene, the active ingredient of Acapodene™
tablets, worldwide in the field of the prevention and treatment
of prostate cancer and the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis,
hot flashes and gynecomastia as side effects of androgen deprivation
therapy for prostate cancer from Orion Corporation, Finland.
GTx is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the
discovery, development and commercialization of therapeutics primarily
related to the treatment of serious men's health conditions and
diseases. GTx's drug discovery and development programs are focused
on small molecules that selectively modulate the effects of estrogens
and androgens. GTx currently has two product candidates that are
in human clinical trials. The company is developing Acapodene™,
its most advanced product candidate, through clinical trials for
two separate indications: (1) a Phase IIb clinical trial for the
reduction in the incidence of prostate cancer in men with precancerous
prostate lesions and (2) the pivotal Phase III clinical trial for
the treatment of serious side effects of advanced prostate cancer
therapy. GTx is initially developing its second product candidate,
Andarine, for the treatment of cachexia, or muscle wasting, that
occurs in various types of cancer.
SOURCE GTx, Inc.
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