Rexahn Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (REXN)

[Theo]

Rexahn Pharmaceuticals Receives U.S. Patent for RX-21101: A Novel Nano-Polymer Conjugate of Docetaxel for the Targeted Treatment of Solid Tumors

"Rexahn’s proprietary nanotechnology drug conjugate platforms optimize chemotherapy effectiveness and reduce side effect liability

ROCKVILLE, Md., Oct. 26, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rexahn Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE MKT:RNN), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing next generation targeted therapeutics for the treatment of cancer, today announced that it has been issued a patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) covering RX-21101 for the targeted delivery of docetaxel directly into cancer tumor cells using a nano-polymer conjugate technology.

"We are pleased to expand our intellectual property covering our unique and innovative targeting technologies in preclinical development. RX-21101 is the first proof of concept candidate from our Nano-Polymer-Drug Conjugate Systems (NPDCS). Our nanotechnology drug conjugate candidates address the large and immediate market for widely used chemotherapies, and they are a complement to our portfolio of proprietary compounds currently in clinical development,” commented Rexahn's CEO, Peter D. Suzdak, Ph.D.

RX-21101 is a nano-polymer conjugate with docetaxel bound to the polymer backbone together with a targeting moiety. The targeting moiety directs the bound drug to the cancer cell, thereby bypassing healthy cells leading to enhanced efficacy with the potential for reduced side effects. Once inside the cancer cell, the complex is metabolized yielding the free anticancer compound. It is the combination of the nano-polymer and the targeting moiety that makes Rexahn’s technology unique and increases the precision of delivery into the cancer cell. RX-21101 has been selected by the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory for its preclinical development program in 2015.

In addition, Rexahn has issued patents covering other nano-polymer conjugate systems including the carboxypropyl-methacrylamide (CPMA) nano-polymer-drug conjugate platform which offers several major advantages over existing drug conjugate systems including the ability to target the delivery of anticancer agents to cancer cells, high water solubility, increased bioavailability and the flexibility to covalently bind multiple structurally diverse classes of compounds to its chemical backbone. Rexahn is actively pursuing other potential drug conjugate candidates with our CPMA platform for the treatment of solid tumors.

About RX-21101

RX-21101 is a chemotherapeutic that combines Rexahn’s nano-drug delivery and targeting technology with docetaxel, a widely used FDA-approved chemo drug. RX-21101 may be more effective and better tolerated than docetaxel and preclinical studies have shown the potential to reduce peripheral neuropathy, a debilitating side effect of docetaxel. Potential indications include breast, ovarian, prostate and lung cancer.

About Rexahn Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Rexahn Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NYSE MKT:RNN) is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing novel, best-in-class therapeutics for the treatment of cancer. The Company's mission is to improve the lives of cancer patients by developing next generation cancer therapies that are designed to maximize efficacy while minimizing the toxicity and side effects traditionally associated with cancer treatment. Rexahn's product candidates work by targeting and neutralizing specific proteins believed to be involved in the complex biological cascade that leads to cancer cell growth. Preclinical studies show that certain of Rexahn's product candidates may be effective against multiple types of cancer, drug resistant cancers, and difficult-to-treat cancers, and others may augment the effectiveness of current FDA-approved cancer treatments. The Company has a broad oncology pipeline that includes three anti-cancer compounds currently in clinical development: RX-3117, Supinoxin™, and Archexin®, and a novel nano-polymer conjugate platform technology that targets the delivery of FDA approved chemotherapies directly into cancer tumor cells. For more information about the Company and its oncology programs, please visit www.rexahn.com."