Synta Pharmaceuticals Corp's clinical activity seen in the first stage of its trial for STA-9090 in Stage IIIB and Stage IV patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), support advancing to the second stage of the trial. This result was achieved in the first pre-defined patient cohort to complete enrolment. STA-9090 is a potent small molecule Hsp90 inhibitor with a novel chemical structure that has shown strong activity in a broad range of solid tumour and haematologic cancer models including lung, prostate, colon, breast, gastric, pancreatic, melanoma, AML, and CML.

"It is particularly encouraging that the pre-specified efficacy criteria have been achieved so early with this patient population," said Vojo Vukovic, senior vice president and chief medical officer, Synta Pharmaceuticals. "The level of tumour shrinkage and disease control seen following treatment with STA-9090 as a single agent, as well as the favorable safety profile, suggest promising potential for STA-9090 in NSCLC. We are excited to advance to the second stage of this trial, and expect to discuss additional details and results later this year."

STA-9090 is currently being evaluated in eight ongoing clinical trials, including phase-2 trials in NSCLC, gastrointestinal stromal tumours, colon cancer, gastric cancer, and AML. Synta expects a total of up to 15 trials for STA-9090 by the end of 2010 and is targeting initiating one or more phase-3 registration trials for STA-9090 in 2011.

Preliminary results from the phase-1 solid tumour trials for STA-9090 will be presented at the 2010 American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting June 4-8.

STA-9090 is a potent, synthetic, small-molecule Hsp90 inhibitor, with a chemical structure unrelated to the first-generation, ansamycin family of Hsp90 inhibitors (e.g., 17-AAG or IPI-504).

Hsp90 is a chaperone protein required for the proper folding and activation of other cellular proteins, particularly kinases.

Synta Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing small molecule drugs to extend and enhance the lives of patients with severe medical conditions, including cancer and chronic inflammatory diseases.