GenSpera Receives Patent on Prodrug Targeted for Prostate Cancer

SAN ANTONIO, Sept. 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- GenSpera, Inc. (OTCBB: GNSZ), a leader in developing prodrug therapeutics for the treatment of cancer, today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issued patent 8,822,406 "Tumor Activated Prodrugs."

The patent covers the composition of a specific prodrug activated by Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) that is designed to deliver a thapsigargin derivative selectively to prostate cancers. PSA is an enzyme secreted by prostate cancer cells. A derivative of thapsigargin, 12ADT, is the active component of mipsagargin (G-202), GenSpera's lead drug candidate in Phase II clinical trials for glioblastoma (brain cancer) patients and for hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer) patients after sorafenib (Nexavar^®) therapy. GenSpera currently owns or licenses 13 issued patents overall with 10 relating to prostate cancer.

"The issuance of this patent further strengthens our intellectual property position for targeted anti-cancer prodrugs and recognizes their unique applicability in treating prostate cancer," commented GenSpera CEO, Craig Dionne, PhD "Each year over 230,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in the United States alone and approximately 30,000 men die of the disease. The market for prostate cancer drugs is estimated to be $6.7 billion by the year 2020. Current treatment options are dominated by drugs that work via chemical castration of the patient. It is important that we develop safe and effective drugs for these men without the very significant side effects of current treatments."

About GenSpera

GenSpera's technology platform combines a powerful, plant-derived cytotoxin (thapsigargin) with a prodrug delivery system that provides for the targeted release of drug candidates within a tumor. Unlike typical chemotherapeutic agents, thapsigargin results in cell death irrespective of the rate of cell division, which may provide an effective approach to kill both fast- and slow-growing cancers. GenSpera's lead drug candidate, mipsagargin, is activated by the enzyme PSMA, which is found at high levels in the vasculature of liver and glioblastoma cancers and in the vasculature of almost all other solid tumors. Mipsagargin is therefore expected to have potential efficacy in a wide variety of tumor types.

Mipsagargin Phase II clinical trials are underway in both hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer) and glioblastoma patients (brain cancer).

For more information, please visit the company's website: www.genspera.com or follow us on Twitter @GenSperaNews.

Company presentations are available at: http://www.genspera.com

Watch the Corporate Video: http://youtu.be/jULjEul-mBk

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information

This news release may contain forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that statements in this press release regarding potential applications of GenSpera's technologies constitute forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks inherent in the development and commercialization of potential products, uncertainty of clinical trial results or regulatory approvals or clearances, need for future capital, dependence upon collaborators and maintenance of our intellectual property rights. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements. Additional information on potential factors that could affect our results and other risks and uncertainties will be detailed from time to time in GenSpera's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

CONTACT:

Company:
Craig Dionne, PhD, CEO
GenSpera, Inc.  +1-210-479-8112                                     

Investor Relations: 
Steve Gersten
Capital Markets Group
[email protected]
+1-813-926-8920

Media:
Dawn Van Zant
800-665-0411

SOURCE GenSpera, Inc.