Aprea to Present Preclinical Data about APR-246 at the American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting, in Orlando, USA

Stockholm, Sweden – November 8, 2010. Aprea AB today announced that encouraging data from its preclinical studies with APR-246 will be presented in a poster session at the upcoming 52nd ASH (American Society of Hematology) Annual Meeting and Exposition in Orlando, FL, USA, December 4-7, 2010.

APR-246 belongs to a new class of anticancer compounds that has been shown to reactivate the non-functional tumor suppressor protein p53 and induce programmed cell death in many human cancer cells. Aberrations in p53 are common in various forms of cancer and are associated with increased resistance to standard chemotherapy resulting in a poor prognosis. For these patients no treatment other than palliative care exists. In preclinical studies APR-246 has demonstrated unique pharmacological properties as compared to conventional chemotherapy, by being effective also in cancer cells with p53 mutations and by preferentially targeting tumor cells over normal cells. In preclinical safety/toxicology studies APR-246 has shown a highly promising safety profile being non toxic at predicted therapeutic plasma concentrations. Moreover, in combination studies with conventional chemotherapy using acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cell lines and primary human leukemia cells, synergistic effects have been observed. Thus, APR-246 appears to be a promising novel anticancer compound for treatment of cancer patients associated with poor prognosis. Currently, APR-246 is in a highest feasible dose (HFD) Phase I/IIa clinical trial for a number of hematological malignancies and prostate cancer. In 2010 Aprea was granted orphan drug designation for APR-246, for the treatment of AML. At the ASH meeting encouraging results from various preclinical cancer models will be presented, together with some results from preclinical safety/toxicology studies.

Abstract No.: 1806
Poster Board No.: I-786
Poster Title: Preclinical Efficacy and Toxicology Studies of APR-246, a Novel Anticancer Compound Currently in Clinical Trials for Refractory Hematological Malignancies and Prostate Cancer
Presenter: Nina Mohell, PhD
Session Title: Molecular Pharmacology, Drug Resistance: Poster I
Session Date and Time: Saturday, December 4, 2010, 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Location: Orange County Convention Center, Hall A3/A4

For more information, please contact:
Ulf Björklund, CEO, Aprea AB
Telephone: +46 (0)706670440

www.aprea.com

About Aprea AB
Aprea AB is a Swedish biotech company focusing on discovery and development of novel anticancer compounds targeting the tumor suppressor protein p53. Aberrations in p53 are common in many various cancer forms and are associated with increased resistance to standard chemotherapy and thus poor prognosis. Aprea is a Karolinska Development AB (publ) portfolio company. The other main owners are Industrifonden, Östersjöstiftelsen and Praktikerinvest.