Moleculin Announces Emory University Clinical Trial of WP1066 Begins Enrollment

Pediatric trial marks the second brain tumor trial of Moleculin's lead STAT3 inhibitor

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Jun 02, 2020, 07:30 ET

HOUSTON, June 2, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Moleculin Biotech, Inc., (Nasdaq: MBRX) ("Moleculin" or the "Company"), a clinical stage pharmaceutical company with a broad portfolio of drug candidates, today announced that recruiting has begun and the first patient has been enrolled in the Emory University Phase 1 clinical trial of WP1066 for the treatment of brain tumors in children. The study is being conducted at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

WP1066 is the lead molecule in Moleculin's portfolio of immune stimulators and modulators of transcription. WP1066 has been shown in animal models to both stimulate a natural immune response, while also inhibiting the activated form of STAT3 (p-STAT3), a gene transcription factor that is considered a master regulator of tumor-related activity.

"p-STAT3 has long been considered an 'undruggable' target," commented Walter Klemp, Chairman and CEO of Moleculin. "We've shown activity in patients with WP1220, one of the other molecules in this portfolio. This trial represents another opportunity to show that p-STAT3 is a viable target. We are honored to be a part of this effort to cure childhood brain tumors."

About Moleculin Biotech, Inc.

Moleculin Biotech, Inc. is a clinical stage pharmaceutical company focused on the development of a broad portfolio of oncology drug candidates for the treatment of highly resistant tumors and viruses. The Company's clinical stage drugs are: Annamycin, a Next Generation Anthracycline, designed to avoid multidrug resistance mechanisms with little to no cardiotoxicity, being studied for the treatment of relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia, more commonly referred to as AML; WP1066, an Immune/Transcription Modulator capable of inhibiting p-STAT3 and other oncogenic transcription factors while also stimulating a natural immune response, being studied for brain tumors, pancreatic cancer and hematologic malignancies; and WP1220, an analog to WP1066, being studied for the topical treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Moleculin is also engaged in preclinical development of additional drug candidates, including additional Immune/Transcription Modulators, as well as compounds capable of Metabolism/Glycosylation Inhibition, such as WP1122.

For more information about the Company, please visit http://www.moleculin.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements in this release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, without limitation, the ability of WP1066 to be shown safe and effective for pediatric brain tumor patients. Although Moleculin believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date made, expectations may prove to have been materially different from the results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Moleculin Biotech has attempted to identify forward-looking statements by terminology including ''believes,'' ''estimates,'' ''anticipates,'' ''expects,'' ''plans,'' ''projects,'' ''intends,'' ''potential,'' ''may,'' ''could,'' ''might,'' ''will,'' ''should,'' ''approximately'' or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, including those discussed under Item 1A. "Risk Factors" in our most recently filed Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and updated from time to time in our Form 10-Q filings and in our other public filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements contained in this release speak only as of its date. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release to reflect events or circumstances occurring after its date or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Contacts
James Salierno / Carol Ruth
The Ruth Group
973-255-8361 / 917-859-0214
[email protected]
[email protected]

SOURCE Moleculin Biotech, Inc.