Final Phase 1 data of zoptarelin doxorubicin Phase 1/2 trial published in Clinical Cancer Research

Dec 31 2014

Aeterna Zentaris Inc. (NASDAQ: AEZS, TSX: AEZ) (the "Company") today announced that an article on final data for the Phase 1 portion of the ongoing Phase 1/2 trial in prostate cancer with zoptarelin doxorubicin (formerly AEZS-108), a hybrid molecule composed of a synthetic peptide carrier and a well-known chemotherapy agent, doxorubicin, has been published in the December issue of Clinical Cancer Research. The article outlines data previously disclosed in June 2013 at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's ("ASCO") Annual Meeting, which demonstrated the compound's safety profile and promising anti-tumor activity in heavily pre‑treated men with castration- and taxane-resistant prostate cancer. These results led to the current investigator-driven Phase 2 portion in this same indication under the supervision of lead investigator, Jacek Pinski, MD, PhD, of the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center. Titled, "Phase I, Dose-Escalation Study of the Targeted Cytotoxic LHRH Analog AEZS-108 in Patients with Castration- and Taxane-Resistant Prostate Cancer", Liu SV, Tsao-Wei DD, Xiong S, Groshen S, Dorff TB, Quinn DI, Tai YC, Engel J, Hawes D, Schally AV, Pinski J., the article is available at this link: Clin Cancer Res.

David Dodd, Chairman and CEO of Aeterna Zentaris stated, "The Phase 1 portion data are very encouraging and we look forward to further results from the current Phase 2 portion of this investigator‑driven trial. Because luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone receptors are expressed in a great number of prostate cancers, we believe that zoptarelin doxorubicin, which specifically targets those receptors, may represent a novel targeted treatment for men with this disease. Expansion into prostate cancer with zoptarelin doxorubicin after positive Phase 2 results in endometrial and ovarian cancer, is further demonstration of the potential of this innovative compound in a variety of cancer indications which affect men as well as women, and could provide the Company with a significant market opportunity."