Moleculin Biotech与Atlantic Health合作开展了一项研究者发起的1B/2期研究，以评估其候选药物Annamycin作为晚期胰腺癌的三线治疗

Moleculin Biotech, Inc., (NASDAQ:MBRX) ("Moleculin" or the "Company"), a late-stage pharmaceutical company with a broad portfolio of drug candidates targeting hard-to-treat cancers and viral infections, today announced it is working with Atlantic Health on an investigator-initiated Phase 1B/2 single-arm study evaluating Annamycin for third-line ("3L") treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer continues to present significant treatment challenges, being the cancer with the highest mortality rate globally and the seventh leading cause of cancer death. However, recent preclinical studies indicate that Annamycin may target critical factors associated with this disease, showcasing its potential as a novel therapeutic option.

Walter Klemp, Chairman and CEO of Moleculin, commented, "We are excited to work with Atlantic Health to advance the development of Annamycin for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. Their interest in funding and conducting this study stems from the compelling preclinical data presented at several American Association for Cancer Research conferences showing a high level of activity by Annamycin against pancreatic cancer and associated liver metastases in preclinical studies. We believe this may be related to Annamycin's demonstrated high affinity for and ability to concentrate in the pancreas, especially considering the well-documented challenge of achieving adequate drug uptake to the pancreas with existing therapies. In addition, recent published data1 now reveal that the upregulation of topoisomerase II, the primary target of Annamycin, is highly correlated with poor survival in pancreatic cancer patients, so we have a highly validated target with pancreatic cancer. Coupled with Annamycin's demonstrated lack of cardiotoxicity, which could enable, for the first time ever, the use of an anthracycline in chronic or maintenance therapies, we believe pancreatic cancer could be an important additional opportunity for Annamycin. Such maintenance therapy demonstrated promising results in a recently concluded clinical study with Annamycin for the treatment of soft tissue sarcoma metastasized to the lungs (MB-107)."

"This study further bolsters our efforts to advance and develop Annamycin through multiple investigator-initiated studies to unlock its potential as a treatment option for many other types of cancers," Mr. Klemp continued. "We continue to be encouraged by the preliminary preclinical data seen to date and believe Annamycin is a highly promising candidate for patients where there remains significant unmet need, such as pancreatic cancer."

"Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most devastating and difficult-to-treat malignancies, with limited options once patients progress beyond first- and second-line therapy," commented Dr. Angela Alistar, MD, Atlantic Health, the study's principal investigator. "In particular, for the treatment options in the third-line setting, where survival rates are poor, no approved standard of care exists. We are committed to driving innovation in this space and based on the consistent safety and efficacy data, both clinically and preclinically, seen with Annamycin across a broad range of cancers, we believe this represents a great opportunity to address this high unmet need."

In connection with the planned study, Moleculin will supply Annamycin and be responsible for submitting and maintaining an Investigational New Drug Application (IND) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Dr. Alistar of Atlantic Health will be responsible for conducting the Phase 1B/2 study. Moleculin estimates the additional cost to run this trial from 2026 into 2030 (for long-term follow-up) will be approximately $1 million, mainly for drug supply and outside laboratory testing.