MD Anderson Cancer Center to Investigate Potential Anti-tumor Effects of CG100649, CrystalGenomics' Novel NSAID Candidate

SEOUL, South Korea, Oct. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- CrystalGenomics, Inc. (www.cgxinc.com), a biopharmaceutical company with drug discovery and development capabilities, has just announced its plan to jointly conduct an investigational preclinical research project with The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. The purpose of this research is to explore the potential anti-tumor effects of CG100649, CrystalGenomics' clinical stage novel NSAID candidate, which is being developed as an osteoarthritis drug.

CrystalGenomics' role in these efforts will be to provide CG100649 for studies in mouse models to determine if the drug prevents adenoma formation. CG100649 is believed to have a cancer prevention mechanism and a superior safety profile compared to existing cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors on the market today and this research is designed to validate this in the area of colorectal cancer. Depending on the results of the research, CrystalGenomics may expand CG100649's indication to also include the prevention of colorectal cancer.

The principal investigator for the research will be Dr. Raymond DuBois, an internationally renowned investigator and researcher in the field of cancer, especially in the link between colorectal cancer, arthritis drugs and the COX-2 enzyme. Dr. DuBois has served as president of the American Association for Cancer Research and currently is the provost and executive vice president of MD Anderson.

Dr. DuBois' laboratory at MD Anderson seeks to advance the understanding, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of colorectal cancer. DuBois and colleagues discovered that bioactive lipids and inflammation play important roles in the process of colorectal cancer prevention and were among the first to recognize that COX enzymes play a pivotal role in the formation of adenomatous polyps and colorectal cancer. These discoveries led to successful clinical translational studies applying the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which included COX-2 inhibitors, in the treatment of high-risk colorectal cancer patients.

President & CEO of CrystalGenomics, Dr. Joong Myung Cho said, "We are very excited to work with a world renowned cancer center and to have the research led by a premier investigator. There is a tremendous potential for our CG100649 program as there are great unmet medical needs in the areas of both osteoarthritis and colorectal cancer."

SOURCE CrystalGenomics, Inc.