Full Press Release Details
FENNEC ANNOUNCES INTERIM RESULTS OF SIOPEL
THIOSULFATE (STS) PRESENTED AT THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF
CLINICAL ONCOLOGY (ASCO) 2016 MEETING
Research Triangle Park, NC, June
6, 2016 - Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc. (TSX: FRX, OTCQB: FENCF), a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the
development of Sodium Thiosulfate (STS) for the prevention of platinum-induced ototoxicity in pediatric patients, announced today
the results presented at the 2016 ASCO meeting in Chicago, Illinois on June 5, 2016.
Penelope Brock, M.D., PhD, International
Chair of SIOPEL, presented the "Two year results of clinical efficacy of cisplatin in combination with sodium thiosulfate
(STS) vs cisplatin alone in a randomized phase III trial for standard risk hepatoblastoma (SR-HB)." The slides presented
during the oral presentation on June 5, 2016, are available on the Fennec Pharmaceuticals, Inc. website: http://www.fennecpharma.com.
"I am privileged to be able to
show the 2 year clinical outcome data for SIOPEL 6 at ASCO and I am delighted that the addition of STS to the treatment of standard
risk hepatoblastoma has not affected survival", said Dr. Brock. "I hope to be able to demonstrate the efficacy of STS
in reducing cisplatin hearing loss next year, when all the children will have reached the age to be tested adequately."
"Cisplatin chemotherapy results
in profound and debilitating hearing loss especially in young children", said Rosty Raykov, Chief Executive Officer of Fennec,
"We are very encouraged that the results show a real potential to improve the quality of life for these children with SR-HB
and sincerely thank Dr. Brock and her SIOPEL 6 colleagues for their dedication to this mission."
" A multi-centre open label
randomised phase III trial of the efficacy of Sodium Thiosulphate in reducing ototoxicity in patients receiving cisplatin chemotherapy
for Standard Risk Hepatoblastoma"
Secondary Endpoints: response, resection, EFS, OS and
long term renal function
About Sodium Thiosulfate (STS)
Cisplatin and other platinum compounds are essential chemotherapeutic
components for many pediatric malignancies. Unfortunately, platinum-based therapies cause ototoxicity in many patients, and
are particularly harmful to the survivors of pediatric cancer.
In the U.S. and Europe there is estimated that over 10,000 children
are diagnosed with local cancers that may receive platinum based chemotherapy. Localized cancers that receive platinum
agents may have overall survival rates of greater than 80% further emphasizing the quality of life after treatment. The incidence
of hearing loss in these children depends upon the dose and duration of chemotherapy, and many of these children require lifelong
hearing aids. There is currently no established preventive agent for this hearing loss and only expensive, technically difficult
and sub-optimal cochlear (inner ear) implants have been shown to provide some benefit. Infants and young children at critical stages
of development lack speech language development and literacy, and older children and adolescents lack social-emotional development
and educational achievement.
STS has been studied by cooperative groups in two Phase 3 clinical
studies of survival and reduction of ototoxicity, The Clinical Oncology Group Protocol ACCL0431 and SIOPEL 6. Both studies are
closed to recruitment. The COG ACCL0431 protocol enrolled one of five childhood cancers typically treated with intensive cisplatin
therapy for localized and disseminated disease, including newly diagnosed hepatoblastoma, germ cell tumor, osteosarcoma, neuroblastoma,
and medulloblastoma. SIOPEL 6 enrolled only hepatoblastoma patients with localized tumors.
About Fennec Pharmaceuticals
Fennec Pharmaceuticals, Inc., is a specialty pharmaceutical
company focused on the development of Sodium Thiosulfate (STS) for the prevention of platinum-induced ototoxicity in pediatric
patients. STS has received Orphan Drug Designation in the US in this setting. For more information, please visit www.fennecpharma.com.
Forward looking statements
Except for historical information described in this press release,
all other statements are forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties inherent in
the Company's business that could cause actual results to vary, including such risks that regulatory and guideline developments
may change, scientific data may not be sufficient to meet regulatory standards or receipt of required regulatory clearances or
approvals, clinical results may not be replicated in actual patient settings, protection offered by the Company's patents
and patent applications may be challenged, invalidated or circumvented by its competitors, the available market for the Company's
products will not be as large as expected, the Company's products will not be able to penetrate one or more targeted markets,
revenues will not be sufficient to fund further development and clinical studies, the Company may not meet its future capital requirements
in different countries and municipalities, the proposed sale to Elion may not be completed and other risks detailed from time to
time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2015. Fennec Pharmaceuticals, Inc. disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements
except as required by law.
For a more detailed discussion of related risk factors, please
refer to our public filings available at www.sec.gov and www.sedar.com.
For further information, please contact:
Chief Executive Officer
Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc.