( Research from Non-clinical Studies Pres...)Sunesis Pharmaceuticals Presents SNS-314 Aurora Kinase Inhibitor,Data Showing Broad Anti-Tumor Activity, Dosing Flexibility,Health

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., March 20, 2007 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sunesis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. , presented non-clinical data on its development-stage compound, SNS-314, at two leading scientific meetings focused on targeted anticancer medicines. Findings from in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrate that SNS-314 is a selective inhibitor of Aurora kinases with consistently potent anti-tumor activity across a number of cancer types.

"Based on the data presented at TAT 2007 and the Keystone Symposia 'Molecular Targets for Cancer' meetings, we believe that SNS-314 has a compelling preclinical profile and merits full clinical development. In diverse xenograft models, this anticancer agent demonstrates good activity that is linked to mechanistic markers of Aurora inhibition," said Daniel C. Adelman, M.D., Senior Vice President, Research and Development at Sunesis. "The results reported from our non-clinical studies of SNS-314 are impressive, and we are looking forward to starting the Phase 1 dose-escalating clinical study of SNS-314 in patients with advanced solid tumors in the second quarter. In this trial, patients will receive three weekly doses of SNS-314 in a four-week dosing regimen."

In an oral presentation delivered on March 10 at the 5th International Symposium on Targeted Anticancer Therapies (TAT 2007) meeting held in Amsterdam, Sunesis researchers presented results showing SNS-314's anti-tumor activity across a number of cancer models. SNS-314 demonstrated potent and sustained activity in xenograft models of colon, breast, prostate, lung, ovarian and skin cancers, where intermittent dosing caused up to 96 percent tumor growth inhibition. These results suggest that weekly administration may provide an opt
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