Research shows that uproleselan is a potent antagonist of E-selectin, can break chemoresistance

ROCKVILLE, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr. 30, 2020-- GlycoMimetics, Inc. (Nasdaq: GLYC) today announced that important new preclinical data on the mechanism of action for its late-stage clinical candidate, uproleselan, are published in the April 27, 2020, issue of Nature Communications. The paper outlines how uproleselan, an investigational, first-in-class, targeted inhibitor of E-selectin, can reduce chemoresistance in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) through the key mechanism of targeted E-selectin inhibition.¹

“This paper offers compelling data on the mechanism of action of uproleselan,” said John Magnani, Ph.D., GlycoMimetics Senior Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer. “AML cells that bind E-selectin become chemoresistant in protective niches in the bone marrow, eventually causing relapsed disease. This data demonstrates that, as a potent antagonist of E-selectin, uproleselan breaks this chemoresistance.”

Barbier et.al. explain in the manuscript how AML blasts release inflammatory cytokines that further enhance the expression of E-selectin. AML blasts that strongly express the E-selectin ligand (sialyl Lex), in particular, are 12 times more likely to survive chemotherapy, and this is a major cause of relapsed disease. By selectively inhibiting E-selectin, uproleselan disrupts this pro-survival pathway and prolongs survival when paired with chemotherapy in an animal model of AML.

The journal article can be accessed here.

1 Barbier et.al. Nature Communications (April 27) doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-15817-5

About Uproleselan

Discovered and developed by GlycoMimetics, uproleselan and GMI-1687 are investigational, first-in-class, targeted inhibitors of E-selectin. Uproleselan (yoo’ pro le’ sel an), currently in a comprehensive Phase 3 development program in AML, has received Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the U.S. FDA for the treatment of adult AML patients with relapsed or refractory disease. Uproleselan is designed to block E-selectin (an adhesion molecule on cells in the bone marrow) from binding with blood cancer cells as a targeted approach to disrupting well-established mechanisms of leukemic cell resistance within the bone marrow microenvironment. In a Phase 1/2 clinical trial, uproleselan was evaluated in both newly diagnosed elderly and relapsed or refractory patients with AML. In both populations, patients treated with uproleselan together with standard chemotherapy achieved better-than-expected remission rates and overall survival compared to historical controls, which have been derived from results from third-party clinical trials evaluating standard chemotherapy, as well as lower-than-expected induction-related mortality rates. Treatment in these patient populations was generally well-tolerated, with fewer than expected adverse effects.

About GlycoMimetics, Inc.

GlycoMimetics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of novel glycomimetic drugs to address unmet medical needs resulting from diseases in which carbohydrate biology plays a key role. GlycoMimetics’ wholly-owned drug candidate, uproleselan, an E-selectin antagonist, was evaluated in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial as a potential treatment for AML and is being evaluated across a range of patient populations including a Company-sponsored Phase 3 trial in relapsed/refractory AML. GlycoMimetics has also completed a Phase 1 clinical trial with another wholly-owned drug candidate, GMI-1359, a combined CXCR4 and E-selectin antagonist. GlycoMimetics is located in Rockville, MD in the BioHealth Capital Region. Learn more at www.glycomimetics.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding the clinical development and potential benefits and impact of the Company’s drug candidates. Actual results may differ materially from those in these forward-looking statements. For a further description of the risks associated with these statements, as well as other risks facing GlycoMimetics, please see the risk factors described in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on February 28, 2020, and other filings GlycoMimetics makes with the SEC from time to time. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release, and GlycoMimetics undertakes no obligation to update or revise these statements, except as may be required by law.

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Source: GlycoMimetics, Inc.