Array BioPharma Issues Update on ARRY-520 for Multiple Myeloma at '13 ASHM

Array BioPharma Inc.

announced positive data for newly named filanesib (ARRY-520) as a single agent and in combination with proteasome inhibitors (PI) in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) at the 2013 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology. Filanesib is a highly selective, targeted KSP inhibitor with a mechanism of action distinct from currently available drugs to treat MM such as immunomodulatory drugs (IMiD) and PIs.  Across multiple studies, filanesib has demonstrated activity in heavily pre-treated MM patients, with a consistent safety profile including no drug-induced peripheral neuropathy and limited non‑hematologic toxicity.  Adverse events are generally limited to transient, non-cumulative and predominantly asymptomatic hematologic effects.  "Filanesib has shown clinical activity in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma patients, both as a single agent, and in separate combination trials with Kyprolis and Velcade," said Jatin J. Shah, M.D., Assistant Professor, Lymphoma/Myeloma, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center.  "These results support advancing filanesib into pivotal trials to confirm the promising activity we've seen to date." "Multiple myeloma remains an incurable disease, with a significant unmet medical need in patients who are relapsed/refractory to IMiDs and proteasome inhibitors," said Michael Needle, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, Array BioPharma.  "Filanesib is a first-in class drug in myeloma that is well tolerated and has shown very encouraging clinical activity in heavily pretreated patients who have limited therapeutic options.  Furthermore, we are excited about the potential of our patient selection marker, AAG, which should help us identify which patients have the best chance to benefit from receiving filanesib." Below are highlights of each presentation.  The posters and presentation slides are available as PDFs on Array's website at www.arraybiopharma.com.