GNT Biotech and Medicals Corporation Licenses Novel Cancer Molecule From Shenzhen Chipscreen Biosciences Ltd.

SHENZHEN, China, Oct. 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- GNT Biotech and Medicals Corporation announces the grant of an exclusive license from Shenzhen Chipscreen Biosciences Ltd.for the development and commercialization of Chidamide in Taiwan. Chidamide, an oral, selective histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, is currently being evaluated in Phase II trials by Chipscreen Biosciences in Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma (PTCL), Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma (CTCL) and Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer patients (NSCLC). GNTbm will develop and commercialize Chidamide primarily in PTCL, NSCLC and will also retain the rights to develop and commercialize Chidamide in other oncology indications in Taiwan.

About Chidamide

Chidamide is a selective HDAC inhibitor against subtype 1, 2, 3 and 10, and being studied in multiple clinical trials as a single agent or in combination with chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of various hematological and solid cancers. Its anticancer effects are thought to be mediated through epigenetic modulation via multiple mechanisms of action, including the inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis in blood derived cells, inhibition of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT, a process that is highly relevant to tumor cell metastasis and drug resistance), induction of tumor specific antigen and antigen-specific T cell cytotoxicity, enhancement of NK cell anti-tumor activity, induction of cancer stem cell differentiation, and resensitization of tumor cells that have become resistant to anticancer agents such as platinums, taxanes and topoisomerase II inhibitors. Chidamide has demonstrated clinical efficacy in pivotal phase II trials on Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma (CTCL) and Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma (PTCL) conducted in China, and is currently undergoing phase II trial in NSCLC together with first line PC therapeutic treatment. Due to its superior pharmacokinetic properties and selectivity, Chidamide may offer better clinical profile over the other HDAC inhibitors currently under development or being marketed.

About GNTbm

GNTbm is a subsidiary of GNT Inc, a Taiwanese company focused on the manufacture of nano-scale metallic particles for food and medical purposes. Founded in 1992 by a team of electronic professionals, GNT has successfully developed the innovative technology of physical metal miniaturization based on the patent of MBE (Molecular Beam Epitaxy). Further information about GNT Inc is available at www.gnt.com.tw.

GNTbm was established in August 2013, and housed in the Nankang Biotech Incubation Center, (NBIC), in Nankang, Taipei. Lead by Dr. Chia-Nan Chen along with an experienced team of scientists, GNTbm will explore development and commercialization of novel drug delivery systems, Innovative biomedical and diagnostic tools based on gold nanoparticles.

About Shenzhen Chipscreen Biosciences Ltd.

Chipscreen is a leading integrated biotech company in China specialized in discovery and development of novel small molecule pharmaceuticals. The company has utilized its proprietary chemical genomics-based discovery platform to successfully develop a portfolio of clinical and preclinical stage programs in a number of therapeutic areas. Chipscreen's business strategy is to generate differentiated drug candidates across multiple therapeutic areas. Drug candidates are either developed by Chipscreen or co-developed and commercialized in a partnership at the research, preclinical and clinical stages. The company was established as Sino-foreign joint venture in 2001. Further details about Chipscreen Bioscience is available at www.chipscreen.com.

SOURCE GNT Biotech and Medicals Corporation