Will Focus on Clinical Development of Best in Class Dual CYP17 Lyase Inhibitor / Androgen Receptor (AR) Antagonist

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC, USA I October 22, 2014 I Innocrin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (www.innocrinpharma.com), a privately held pharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery and development of best-in-class, small molecule CYP17 lyase inhibitors, announced today its formation as a spin-out of Viamet Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Selective lyase inhibition is an innovative approach to blocking CYP17, a validated enzyme target for the treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). CYP17 lyase inhibitors may also have commercial potential for the treatment of other conditions that are due to hormonal excess including breast cancer, endometriosis, and polycystic ovary syndrome among others. Innocrin’s lead asset, VT-464, is a best-in-class oral drug candidate that is now in multiple Phase 2 studies for the treatment of CRPC.

Innocrin’s ongoing CRPC clinical trials include:

A Phase 1/2 open-label study to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy of VT-464 in CRPC patients who are treatment-naïve or whose disease has progressed following treatment with 1st-line Xtandi™, Zytiga™ or both.
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02012920

A Phase 2 open-label study, that is being funded by the National Cancer Institute, to evaluate the efficacy and safety of VT-464 in patients with metastatic CRPC who have previously been treated with Xtandi™.
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02130700

William Moore., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Innocrin, stated “I am delighted to lead the team that is devoted to discovering and developing novel, selective, oral inhibitors of CYP17 lyase that do not clinically block CYP17 hydroxylase, thereby avoiding the side effects and improving upon the efficacy observed with other CYP17 inhibitors. Innocrin’s lead molecule, VT-464, is both a potent and selective CYP17 lyase inhibitor and AR antagonist that has outperformed the leading CYP17 inhibitor and AR antagonist CRPC drugs in advanced preclinical models.”

Doug Reed, M.D., the Chairman of the Board of Innocrin said “the Board of Directors and our investors are pleased to announce the formation of Innocrin, which is focused on developing what we hope to be the best-in-class drug candidate for CRPC. VT-464 selectively inhibits a highly validated biochemical pathway required for prostate cancer growth. The molecule is the only member of the CYP17 inhibitor class clinically proven to reduce androgens without altering the synthesis of the mineralocorticoids or glucocorticoids.”

About Innocrin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (www.innocrinpharma.com)

Innocrin discovers and develops novel, best-in-class oral inhibitors of CYP17 lyase, a validated enzyme target for the treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer. VT-464 and the entire CYP17 inhibitor patent estate are wholly owned by Innocrin. CYP17 lyase inhibitors may also have high commercial potential for the treatment of breast cancer as well as non-oncologic syndromes that are due to hormonal excess including endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, and congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

Innocrin’s investors include Novartis Venture Fund, Lilly Ventures, Hatteras Venture Partners, Intersouth Partners, Lurie Holdings, and Astellas Venture Management.

SOURCE: Innocrin Pharmaceuticals