Ascenta Therapeutics Announces Multiple Presentations on AT-101 at 2009 ASCO Annual...

Ascenta Therapeutics Announces Multiple Presentations on AT-101 at 2009 ASCO
Annual Meeting

MALVERN, Pa., May 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Ascenta Therapeutics announced today that
eleven presentations or publications on pre-clinical and clinical studies of
AT-101, an oral, pan-Bcl-2 inhibitor, in several major tumor types will be
made during the 2009 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual
Meeting, May 29-June 2, in Orlando, Florida. Abstracts are available at
www.asco.org.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090227/PH75873LOGO )

Prostate Cancer
MacVicar G, et al. An open-label, multicenter, phase I/II study of AT-101 in
combination with docetaxel (D) and prednisone (P) in men with castrate
resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Abstract #5062; Poster Board #17; Poster
Discussion, May 31, 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Poiesz B, et al. Preliminary report of an open-label, multicenter, phase I/II
study of AT-101 in combination with docetaxel (D) and prednisone (P) in men
with docetaxel refractory prostate cancer. Abstract #5145; Poster Board #J13;
GU General Poster Session, May 31, 2:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.

Glioma
Fiveash J, et al. NABT-0702: A phase II study of AT-101 in recurrent
glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Abstract #2010; Poster Board #2; Poster
Discussion, May 30, 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Lung Cancer
Heist R, et al. A phase I/II study of AT-101 in combination with topotecan
(T) in patients with relapsed or refractory small cell lung cancer (SCLC)
after prior platinum containing first line chemotherapy. Abstract #8106;
Poster Board #R14; Lung Cancer - Metastatic, May 30, 2:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.

Ready N, et al. AT-101 or placebo (P) with docetaxel (D) in second line NSCLC
with gene signature biomarker development. Abstract #3577; Poster Board #J19;
Developmental Therapeutics, May 30, 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Min P, et al. Small molecule pan-bcl-2 inhibitor AT-101 induces apoptosis in
NSCLC by upregulating noxa and enhances antitumor activity of docetaxel or
targeted kinase inhibitors. Abstract #e14591; Publication only.

Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
Kingsley E, et al. An open-label, multicenter, phase II study of AT-101 in
combination with rituximab (R) in patients with untreated, grade I-II,
follicular Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (FL). Abstract #8582; Poster Board #S11;
Lymphoma and Plasma Cell Disorders, May 30, 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Advanced Cancers
Leal TB, et al. A phase I study of AT-101 in combination with cisplatin (P)
and etoposide (E) in patients with advanced solid tumors and extensive-stage
small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC). Abstract #e13502; Publication only.

Saleh M, et al. Extended phase I trial of the oral pan-Bcl-2 inhibitor AT-101
by multiple dosing schedules in patients with advanced cancers. Abstract
#e14537; Publication only.

Mechanism of Action/Pharmacokinetics
Wang S, et al. AT-101 induces transcriptional up-regulation of Noxa and Puma
and overcomes Mcl-1-mediated cancer cell resistance to apoptosis. Abstract #
e14611; Publication only.

Pitot H, et al. Analysis of a phase I pharmacokinetic (PK)/food effect study
of AT-101 in patients with advanced solid tumors. Abstract #2557; Poster
Board #B18; Developmental Therapeutics, May 30, 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

About AT-101
AT-101 is an orally-active, pan-Bcl-2 inhibitor (including Bcl-2, Bcl-xL,
Bcl-w, and Mcl-1 inhibition) that has been shown to induce apoptosis directly
by operating as a BH3 mimetic and indirectly as an independent upregulator of
Noxa and Puma. By blocking the binding of Bcl-2 family members with
proapoptotic proteins and upregulating specific proapoptotic factors, AT-101
lowers the threshold for cancer cells to undergo apoptosis in various tumor
types. In Phase I and Phase II trials, AT-101 has demonstrated single-agent
cytoreductive activity in several cancers, including chronic lymphocytic
leukemia (CLL), non-Hodgkins lymphoma (NHL), and prostate cancer. Phase II
combination trials are ongoing in several cancers, including
hormone-refractory prostate cancer and non-small cell lung cancer (with
Taxotere(R)), B-cell malignancies (with Rituxan(R)), small cell lung cancer
(with Hycamtin(R)), glioma (with Temodar(R), +/- chemoradiotherapy [XRT]) and
esophageal cancer (with docetaxel, 5-fluorouracil and XRT).

About Ascenta Therapeutics
Ascenta Therapeutics, Inc. is a privately-held, clinical-stage
biopharmaceutical company that discovers and develops new medicines for the
treatment of cancer. The company is headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania,
and has a preclinical research facility in Shanghai, China. Its technology,
licensed from both the National Institutes of Health and the laboratory of Dr.
Shaomeng Wang at the University of Michigan, is focused on discovering
molecules that restore the natural potential for cancer cells to undergo cell
death (apoptosis). Ascenta's lead agent, AT-101, is an orally-active small
molecule pan Bcl-2 inhibitor (Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, and Mcl-1) currently in Phase 2
clinical trials in castrate resistant prostate cancer. The Company's
preclinical pipeline includes the oral multi-IAP antagonist AT-406, and an
HDM2-p53 inhibitor program.

For additional information on Ascenta Therapeutics, please visit the company's
website at www.ascenta.com

SOURCE Ascenta Therapeutics

Mike Beyer of Sam Brown Inc. for Ascenta Therapeutics, +1-773-463-4211,
beyer@sambrown.com