BERKELEY HEIGHTS, NJ, October 16, 2000
- Genta Incorporated (Nasdaq:
GNTA
) today announced that its CEO, Dr. Raymond P. Warrell, Jr.,
presented an overview of the Company"s clinical programs in
hematologic oncology at the annual Leadership Conference of the
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in Indianapolis, IN. The Society is
the largest volunteer organization dedicated to fighting
blood-related cancers. Dr. Warrell"s invited address was delivered
at the Society"s Stohlman Scholar Symposium.
The presentation cited two recent publications (Schmitt et al.,
Nature Medicine 6:1029 [September], 2000 [
http://medicine.nature.com/
]; and Guiness et al., Cancer Research 60:5354 [October], 2000 [
http://aacr.edoc.com/cr/v60n19/ch005354.aspxl
]). The former showed that the Bcl-2 protein, which is targeted by
the Company"s lead antisense compound (Genasense
TM
), is a major cause of chemotherapy resistance in lymphoma. The
latter study showed that Genasense
TM
treatment completely prevented or significantly delayed the
development of fatal lymphoma in mice. Dr. Warrell observed that
these studies provided substantial additional justification for the
Company"s proposal to accelerate the development of Genasense
TM
in certain lymphoid diseases, including multiple myeloma and
chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and also in acute leukemia.
Dr. Warrell summarized his remarks by noting: "Bcl-2 was
originally discovered in the blood-related cancers, and these
illnesses represent important targets for us. With the proposed new
trials that will complement the existing Phase 3 study in melanoma,
Genta will have developed a portfolio of registration-quality
studies, all of which are designed to mature on similar timelines.
We believe this strategy will maximize our opportunity to
capitalize on an early successful outcome."
