Pipeline
AVN944


AVN944, our novel lead product targeting Inosine Monophosphate Dehydrogenase (IMPDH), is progressing well in a large Phase I clinical trial for the treatment of hematologic malignancies, and a Phase II clinical trial in combination with gemcitabine for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. We are also using AvalonRx® in an unprecedented clinical trial design for the identification of biomarkers that may help stratify responsive patient populations in order to accelerate clinical development of AVN944. Our other product development programs have the potential to produce first-in-class drugs by taking advantage of the unique ability of AvalonRx® to address interesting, but previously "undruggable" cancer targets.

AVN944 is an oral small molecule inhibitor of Inosine Monophosphate Dehydrogenase (IMPDH). IMPDH is over-expressed in many cancer types. Pre-clinical studies showed that AVN944 is a highly specific inhibitor of IMPDH, suppresses pools of GTP, and in cultured cells has a selective growth inhibition effect on cancer cells vs. normal cells. AVN944 is currently in late Phase I studies in hematological malignancies and a Phase II clinical trial in combination with Gemcitabine for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. We plan on entering Phase II studies in hematologic tumors in 2008.