CytRx Corporation Highlights Review of NantCell Inc's Aldoxorubicin Published in Future Oncology

LOS ANGELES, June 21, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- CytRx Corporation (NASDAQ:CYTR), a biopharmaceutical research and development company specializing in oncology, today highlighted data on NantCell Inc's aldoxorubicin which was published in the peer-reviewed journal Future Oncology. The paper, published on June 5, 2018, is entitled "Aldoxorubicin therapy for the treatment of patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma" and can be accessed online here. The authors of the publication are Mahesh Seetharam and Kantha R. Kolla, both of the Division of Hematology/Oncology at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona; and Kristen N. Ganjoo, of the Department of Medical Oncology, Stanford Cancer Institute in Stanford, California. 

The paper discusses the albumin binding mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, preclinical studies, clinical trial data and safety profile of aldoxorubicin and its relevance in the future treatment of soft tissue sarcoma. The authors emphasize that aldoxorubicin was principally developed to increase efficacy and overcome the cardiotoxic side effects of the anthracycline agent doxorubicin. Phase I and Phase II studies with aldoxorubicin demonstrated increased progression-free survival and tumor response in the aldoxorubicin group with tolerable side effects, while the results of a Phase III study also showed statistically significant benefits in progression-free survival in leiomyosarcoma and liposarcoma subgroups. The authors conclude that the unique biochemical structure of aldoxorubicin causes its target-specific drug delivery property, which, in combination with its negligible levels of cardiotoxicity even at high doses, should give aldoxorubicin a meaningful role in the treatment of patients with metastatic soft tissue sarcoma, as an adjuvant therapy in sarcomas, or as a treatment for patients who have other anthracycline sensitive tumor types. 

"The publication of this data in Future Oncology underscores aldoxorubicin's benefit over doxorubicin in providing both a meaningful and clinical benefit to patients with soft tissue sarcoma while avoiding the cardiotoxicity that is the main limitation with doxorubicin usage," said Eric Curtis, CytRx's President and Chief Operating Officer. "Early and late phase studies of aldoxorubicin have shown improved response rates and, due to modifications in its biochemical structure, an acceptable toxicity profile. We look forward to NantCell's further clinical development of aldoxorubicin in soft tissue sarcoma and other types of cancer with very high unmet needs."

CytRx out-licensed global development, manufacturing, and commercialization rights for aldoxorubicin to NantCell, Inc., a private subsidiary of NantWorks, LLC, in July 2017.

About CytRx Corporation

CytRx Corporation (Nasdaq: CYTR) is a biopharmaceutical company with expertise in discovering and developing new therapeutics to treat patients with cancer. CytRx's wholly owned subsidiary, Centurion BioPharma Corporation, is focused on advancing a portfolio of novel, anti-cancer drug candidates that employ its LADRtm (Linker Activated Drug Release) technology, a discovery engine designed to leverage Centurion's expertise in albumin biology and linker technology for the development of a new class of potential breakthrough anti-cancer therapies. A critical element of the LADRtm platform is its ability to bind anti-cancer molecules to albumin, the most ubiquitous protein in human blood plasma, and then to release the highly potent cytotoxic payload at the tumor site. This technology allows for the delivery of higher doses of drug directly to the tumor, while avoiding much of the off-target toxicity observed with the parent molecules. CytRx's most advanced drug conjugate, aldoxorubicin, is an improved version of the widely used anti-cancer drug doxorubicin and has been out-licensed to NantCell, Inc.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from the events or results described in the forward-looking statements, including risks and uncertainties relating to the ability of NantCell, Inc., to obtain regulatory approval for its products that use aldoxorubicin; the ability of NantCell, Inc., to manufacture and commercialize products or therapies that use aldoxorubicin; the amount, if any, of future milestone and royalty payments that we may receive from NantCell, Inc.; Centurion BioPharma Corporation's ability to develop new ultra-high potency drug candidates based on its LADRtm technology platform; our ability to attract potential licensees; and other risks and uncertainties described in the most recent annual and quarterly reports filed by CytRx with the Securities and Exchange Commission and current reports filed since the date of CytRx's most recent annual report. All forward-looking statements are based upon information available to CytRx on the date the statements are first published. CytRx undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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Michelle Carroll
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SOURCE CytRx Corporation