4SC AG

Regulatory Filings • Aug 13, 2015

News Details

Corporate | 13 August 2015 07:30

Press Release: 4SC strengthens patent protection for its epigenetic cancer drug candidate 4SC-202 in growth market China

4SC AG / Key word(s): Patent

2015-08-13 / 07:30

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Press Release

4SC strengthens patent protection for its epigenetic cancer drug candidate 4SC-202 in growth market China

Planegg-Martinsried, Germany, 13 August 2015 – 4SC AG (Frankfurt, Prime Standard: VSC), a discovery and development company of targeted small molecule drugs for cancer and autoimmune diseases, today announced that it has further strengthened the patent protection for its epigenetic anti-cancer compound 4SC-202 – a selective inhibitor of LSD1 and HDACs 1, 2, and 3 – in China.

The Chinese Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) has granted a patent relating to the tosylate salt of the compound. As this salt has been used in the clinical trials with 4SC-202, this patent provides a further building block in 4SC’s global protection strategy for the drug candidate. The patents for 4SC-202 tosylate salt will provide additional protection against potential competitors and thus complements the composition of matter patents for 4SC-202, which so far have been granted in 61 countries, including patents in the major markets USA, Europe, China, Japan, Russia, and India.

Enno Spillner, Chief Executive Officer of 4SC AG, said: “Strengthening patent protection for our innovative anti-cancer compound 4SC-202 in the attractive upcoming growth market China underscores the development strategy for 4SC-202. We thus further strengthen our position as a leading biotech company in epigenetic cancer therapies.” Enno Spillner continued: “Alongside our lead oncology compound resminostat, 4SC-202 is the second promising epigenetic anti-cancer agent in our clinical pipeline. We see strong standalone potential for 4SC-202 due to its unique mechanism of action. We are currently in talks with potential partners evaluating Phase II development options for 4SC-202. We look in particular at tumour indications, whose development and progression depend heavily on the therapeutically interesting Hedgehog and Wnt signalling pathways, which are epigenetically modulated by 4SC-202.”

China, according to market intelligence experts, is the world’s second-largest market for pharmaceuticals behind the USA. Analysts from IMS Health have forecast strong annual growth of between 10% and 13% for the sector in China for the upcoming years, expecting a total volume of USD 155-185 in 2018. The oncology market in Asia will see particularly strong growth and therefore become increasingly important for the development and marketing of innovative cancer drugs such as 4SC-202. Nearly half of all new cancer cases worldwide occur in Asia already.

Ends

About 4SC-202

4SC-202 is 4SC’s second epigenetic drug candidate in clinical development, showing markedly different properties compared to the Company’s other epigenetic drug resminostat thus possessing an individual and unique therapeutic profile. 4SC-202 is an orally administered selective inhibitor of LSD1 and HDACs 1, 2, and 3 with a unique combination of anti-cancer mode of actions, namely epigenetic regulation and targeting of cancer stem cells. 4SC-202 has been shown to inhibit the Hedgehog (HH) and WNT signalling pathways in cancer cells via epigenetic modifications, thereby provoking the inhibition of properties of cancer stem cells.4SC-202 has been investigated in the clinical Phase I TOPAS study in patients with advanced hematological tumours showing very good safety and tolerability, excellent PK properties and encouraging signs of anti-tumour efficacy including long-term disease stabilization and objective tumour responses (CR and PR).

About 4SC

The Group managed by 4SC AG (ISIN DE000A14KL72) discovers and develops targeted, small-molecule drugs for treating diseases with high unmet medical needs in various cancer and autoimmune indications. These drugs are intended to provide innovative treatment options that are more tolerable and efficacious than existing therapies, and provide a better quality of life. The Company’s pipeline comprises promising products that are in various stages of clinical development. 4SC’s aim is to generate future growth and enhance its enterprise value by entering into partnerships with pharmaceutical and biotech companies. Founded in 1997, 4SC had a headcount of 68 employees (60 FTEs) at 30 June 2015. 4SC AG has been listed on the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange since December 2005.

Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement applies only on the date of this press release. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may or may not occur in the future and as a result of which the actual results and performance may differ substantially from the expected future results or performance expressed or implied in the forward looking statements. No warranties or representations are made as to the accuracy, achievement or reasonableness of such statements, estimates or projections, and 4SC AG has no obligation to update any such information or to correct any inaccuracies herein or omission herefrom which may become apparent.

For more information please visit www.4sc.com or contact:

4SC AG

Jochen Orlowski, Corporate Communications & Investor Relations

jochen.orlowski(at)4sc.com, Tel.: +49-89-7007-6366

MC Services

Katja Arnold, Dorothea Schneider

katja.arnold(at)mc-services.eu, Tel.: +49-89-2102-2840

The Trout Group

Chad Rubin

crubin(at)troutgroup.com, Tel.: +1-646-378-2947

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Language:	English
Company:	4SC AG
	Am Klopferspitz 19a
	82152 Martinsried
	Germany
Phone:	+49 (0)89 7007 63-0
Fax:	+49 (0)89 7007 63-29
E-mail:	public@4sc.com
Internet:	www.4sc.de
ISIN:	DE000A14KL72
WKN:	A14KL7
Listed:	Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Munich, Stuttgart, Tradegate Exchange

End of News	DGAP News-Service

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