Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Announces Submission of New Drug Application for Belinostat, a novel pan-HDAC inhibitor

HENDERSON, Nev.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Spectrum Pharmaceuticals SPPI, a biotechnology company with fully integrated commercial and drug development operations and a primary focus in hematology and oncology, announced today the that the company has submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for approval of Belinostat, a pan-histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma (R/R PTCL). Belinostat is differentiated from other HDAC inhibitors that selectively inhibit a single class of HDAC enzymes by virtue of its inhibition of all 3 classes of the zinc-dependent HDAC enzymes (Class I, Class II and Class IV); this leads to different alterations in histone and non-histone protein acetylation that, in turn, could importantly influence chromatin accessibility, gene transcription, and activity in different cancer patients, including those who develop drug resistant disease.

“While important strides have been made in treating patients with PTCL, this is a deadly disease and remains an unmet medical need with approximately 70% of patients failing current therapies,” said Rajesh C. Shrotriya, MD, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President of Spectrum Pharmaceuticals. “Based on the clinical data, belinostat was shown to have an acceptable safety profile and clinical efficacy, with complete responses in heavily pretreated patients. In June, data was presented at an oral session at ASCO which demonstrated the clinical activity of belinostat in treating patients (N=129) with R/R PTCL with an overall response rate of 26% in these heavily pretreated patients that included patients who had received a previous allogeneic or autologous stem cell transplant.”

About Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma

According to the Lymphoma Research Foundation (www.lymphoma.org), lymphoma is the most common blood cancer. The two main forms of lymphoma are Hodgkin's lymphoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Lymphoma occurs when lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell, grow abnormally where they typically reside in the lymph glands. The body has two main types of lymphocytes that can develop into lymphomas: B-lymphocytes (B-cells) and T-lymphocytes (T-cells). Peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) comprises a group of rare and aggressive NHLs that develop from mature T-cells. PTCL accounts for approximately 10 to 15% of all NHL cases in the United States.

About Belinostat

Belinostat (PXD 101) is a pan-HDAC inhibitor being studied in multiple clinical trials as a single agent or in combination with chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of various hematological and solid cancers. Its anticancer effect is thought to be mediated through multiple mechanisms of action, including the inhibition of cell proliferation, induction of apoptosis (programmed cell death), inhibition of angiogenesis, induction of differentiation, and the activity in tumors that had become resistant to anticancer agents such as the platinums, taxanes and topoisomerase II inhibitors.

About Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Spectrum Pharmaceuticals is a leading biotechnology company focused on acquiring, developing, and commercializing drug products, with a primary focus in oncology and hematology. Spectrum and its affiliates market four oncology drugs — FUSILEV^® (levoleucovorin) for Injection in the U.S.; FOLOTYN^® (pralatrexate injection), also marketed in the U.S.; ZEVALIN^® (ibritumomab tiuxetan) Injection for intravenous use, for which the Company has worldwide marketing rights and MARQIBO^® (vinCRIStine sulfate LIPOSOME injection) for intravenous infusion, for which the Company has worldwide marketing rights. Spectrum's strong track record in in-licensing and acquiring differentiated drugs, and expertise in clinical development have generated a robust, diversified, and growing pipeline of product candidates in advanced-stage Phase 2 and Phase 3 studies. More information on Spectrum is available at www.sppirx.com.

Forward-looking statement — This press release may contain forward-looking statements regarding future events and the future performance of Spectrum Pharmaceuticals that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These statements are based on management's current beliefs and expectations. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements that relate to our business and its future, including sales of Spectrum's drug products, certain company milestones, Spectrum's ability to identify, acquire, develop and commercialize a broad and diverse pipeline of late-stage clinical and commercial products, leveraging the expertise of partners and employees around the world to assist us in the execution of our strategy, and any statements that relate to the intent, belief, plans or expectations of Spectrum or its management, or that are not a statement of historical fact. Risks that could cause actual results to differ include the possibility that our existing and new drug candidates may not prove safe or effective, the possibility that our existing and new applications to the FDA and other regulatory agencies may not receive approval in a timely manner or at all, the possibility that our existing and new drug candidates, if approved, may not be more effective, safer or more cost efficient than competing drugs, the possibility that our efforts to acquire or in-license and develop additional drug candidates may fail, our lack of sustained revenue history, our limited marketing experience, our customer concentration, the possibility for fluctuations in customer orders, evolving market dynamics, our dependence on third parties for clinical trials, manufacturing, distribution, information and quality control and other risks that are described in further detail in the Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We do not plan to update any such forward-looking statements and expressly disclaim any duty to update the information contained in this press release except as required by law.

SPECTRUM PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.®, FUSILEV®, FOLOTYN®, ZEVALIN® and MARQIBO® are registered trademarks of Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc and its affiliates. REDEFINING CANCER CARE™ and the Spectrum Pharmaceuticals logos are trademarks owned by Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Any other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

© 2013 Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. All Rights Reserved.