Seclidemstat safety profile affirmed; Recommended Phase 2 dose established

Demonstrated preliminary evidence of seclidemstat drug activity in subset of Ewing-related sarcoma patients

HOUSTON, Feb. 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --  Salarius Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: SLRX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing potential new medicines for patients with pediatric cancers, solid tumors, and other cancers, announced today that it has completed the dose-escalation stage and established the recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D) for its ongoing Phase 1/2 clinical trial in relapsed/refractory (R/R) Ewing sarcoma.

The Phase 1/2 clinical trial of seclidemstat in patients with Ewing sarcoma was designed as an open-label, multi-center, dose-finding study. The primary objectives of the study were to determine the safety and tolerability of seclidemstat. Secondary objectives were to assess the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD), the RP2D, preliminary anti-tumor activity, pharmacokinetics (PK), and pharmacodynamics.

Data from patients treated in the dose-escalation portion of the trial demonstrated seclidemstat had a manageable safety profile. The RP2D for the expansion stage has been established and, importantly, PK data from the dose-escalation portion of the trial indicated that treatment at the RP2D achieved plasma concentrations above levels where seclidemstat demonstrated activity in preclinical studies. Salarius is preparing to submit the full findings from the dose-escalation trial, including details on safety, dosing, and initial efficacy signals, for presentation at an upcoming medical conference. Conference embargo rules prevent additional disclosures at this time.

“The completion of dose escalation in Ewing sarcoma patients and establishment of the RP2D represent important milestones in our clinical development of seclidemstat,” stated David Arthur, President and CEO of Salarius Pharmaceuticals. “We are encouraged by data from the dose-escalation phase and look forward to continuing development of seclidemstat for difficult to treat cancers.”

Salarius is evaluating its lead drug candidate, seclidemstat, in patients with R/R Ewing sarcoma, a rare and deadly pediatric bone and soft tissue cancer and in a Phase 1/2 trial enrolling patients with Advanced Solid Tumors (AST). Seclidemstat is a novel, oral reversible inhibitor of the lysine-specific histone demethylase 1 enzyme (LSD1), an enzyme that has been shown to play a key role in the development and progression of certain cancers.

As previously reported, a refractory Ewing sarcoma patient treated with single-agent seclidemstat for six cycles (a cycle is 28 days), demonstrated a reduction in prospectively defined target lesions starting at end of cycle 2 with further target lesion tumor shrinkage through end of cycle 4 and cycle 6 (over 75% tumor shrinkage). The appearance of new non-target lesion at the end of cycle 2 resulted in classification of progressive disease as defined by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1. Salarius believes this data demonstrates preliminary drug activity in a patient with refractory Ewing sarcoma. Additional data from the dose-escalation portion of the Ewing sarcoma trial has demonstrated further evidence of drug activity, which Salarius hopes to expand upon during the upcoming dose-expansion portion of the trial by treating R/R Ewing sarcoma patients with seclidemstat.

In addition to treating R/R Ewing sarcoma patients, the expansion portion of the Phase 1/2 trial will enroll patients with additional select sarcomas that share a similar biology to Ewing sarcoma. Fusions of similar oncogenes to those that are translocated in Ewing sarcoma occur in tumors, such as myxoid liposarcoma, desmoplastic small round cell tumors, and others known as Ewing-related sarcomas or FET-translocated sarcomas. The decision to include Ewing-related sarcoma patients was supported by preclinical data and encouraging clinical data in Salarius’ AST trial. Of the small subset of Ewing-related sarcoma patients with progressive disease that enrolled in the AST trial, all patients demonstrated preliminary evidence of seclidemstat drug activity at levels below the RP2D. Encouragingly, in this subset of seclidemstat treated patients, the median time to progression was above the benchmarks established for single-agent activity in the advanced, relapsed soft tissue sarcoma setting. Ewing-related sarcoma patients will continue to be treated with single-agent seclidemstat to generate more safety and early efficacy activity in this patient population. Safety and efficacy results from the AST trial are planned for presentation at an upcoming medical conference. Conference embargo rules prevent further disclosure at this time.

This study will continue to evaluate safety and antitumor activity with data readouts expected towards the end of this year and early next year.

Mr. Arthur concluded, “We are encouraged by the preliminary results from the Ewing sarcoma trial and the Advanced Solid Tumor trial that have demonstrated antitumor activity in patient populations with advanced disease. Based on the totality of the data accumulated thus far, we are optimistic about the potential of seclidemstat in multiple cancers.”

About Salarius Pharmaceuticals
Salarius Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing cancer therapies for patients in need of new treatment options. Salarius’ lead candidate, seclidemstat, is being studied as a potential treatment for pediatric cancers, solid tumors and other cancers with limited treatment options. Seclidemstat is currently in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial for relapsed/refractory Ewing sarcoma, for which it has received Fast Track Designation, Orphan Drug Designation and Rare Pediatric Disease Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Salarius is also developing seclidemstat for several cancers with high unmet medical need, with a second Phase 1/2 clinical study in advanced solid tumors, including prostate, breast, and ovarian cancers. Salarius has received financial support from the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation to advance the Ewing sarcoma clinical program and was also the recipient of a Product Development Award from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). For more information, please visit salariuspharma.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements may be identified by terms such as “anticipate,” “potential,” “progress,” “design,” “estimate,” “continue,” “will,” “aim,” “can,” “believe,” “plan,” “allow,” “expect,” “intend,” “goal,” “provide,” “able to,” “position,” “project,” “developing,” and similar terms or expressions or the negative thereof. Examples of such statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the following: The status and anticipated progress and milestones of Salarius’ clinical trials in relapsed and refractory Ewing sarcoma and Ewing-related sarcomas; Salarius’ developing cancer therapies for patients that need them the most; Salarius’ developing seclidemstat for several cancers with high unmet medical need; Salarius’ developing seclidemstat as a potential treatment for pediatric cancers, solid tumors and other cancers with limited treatment options; Salarius advancing seclidemstat to the dose-escalation stage of the Phase 1/2 clinical trial in relapsed and refractory Ewing sarcoma; the potential of seclidemstat as a treatment for Ewing-related sarcomas; the ability of seclidemstat to demonstrate drug activity; the ability and degree to which seclidemstat could have an impact on the treatment of Ewing sarcoma and Ewing-related sarcomas. Salarius may not actually achieve the plans, carry out the intentions or meet the expectations or objectives disclosed in the forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results and performance to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: the sufficiency of Salarius’ capital resources; the ability of, and need for, Salarius to raise additional capital to meet Salarius’ business operational needs and to achieve its business objectives and strategy; Salarius’ ability to project future capital needs and cash utilization and timing and accuracy thereof; the ability of Salarius to access the remaining funding available under the CPRIT grant; future clinical trial results and impact of results on Salarius; that the results of studies and clinical trials may not be predictive of future clinical trial results; the sufficiency of Salarius’ intellectual property protection; risks related to the drug development and the regulatory approval process; the competitive landscape and other industry-related risks; market conditions and regulatory or contractual restrictions which may impact the ability of Salarius to raise additional capital; the possibility of unexpected expenses or other uses of Salarius’ cash resources; risks related to the COVID-19 outbreak; and other risks described in Salarius’ filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those discussed in Salarius’ quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2020 and in Salarius’ annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release and are based on management’s assumptions and estimates as of such date. Salarius disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.

Contact

Tiberend Strategic Advisors, Inc.
Maureen McEnroe, CFA/Miriam Weber Miller (investors)
(212) 375-2664/ 2694 
mmcenroe@tiberend.com/mmiller@tiberend.com

Johanna Bennett (media)
(212) 375-2686 
jbennett@tiberend.com

Source: Salarius Pharmaceuticals, Inc.