Rexahn Issued Japanese Patent for Anti-cancer Compound Archexin

ROCKVILLE, MD - Rexahn Pharmaceuticals Inc., a clinical stage pharmaceutical company commercializing potential best in class oncology and CNS therapeutics, announced in a press release that the Japanese Patent Office has issued a patent for its novel anti-cancer compound, Archexin.

“The Japanese patent award is another step forward in the development of one of our lead clinical drug candidates, Archexin;” said Dr. Chang Ahn, Rexahn’s chairman and chief executive officer.

“In addition to strengthening our intellectual property portfolio, we are pleased with the progress of Archexin’s ongoing Phase II clinical trial for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. Patient enrollment continues at multiple sites in the US and abroad and we expect to have preliminary results in the fourth quarter of 2010.”

Archexin is a first-in-class, potent inhibitor of Akt protein kinase in the treatment of cancer. Akt regulates signal processes of cell proliferation and survival, angiogenesis, and drug resistance in cancer. Archexin is being developed to treat solid tumors and has FDA Orphan drug designation for RCC, pancreatic, stomach, glioblastoma, and ovarian cancers.  Archexin is in Phase II clinical development for pancreatic cancer as lead indication.

Rexahn Pharmaceuticals is a clinical stage pharmaceutical company dedicated to commercializing first in class and market leading therapeutics for cancer, CNS disorders, sexual dysfunction and other unmet medical needs. Rexahn currently has three drug candidates in Phase II clinical trials – Archexin, Serdaxin, and Zoraxel – all potential best in class therapeutics, and a robust pipeline of preclinical compounds to treat multiple cancers and CNS disorders. Rexahn also operates key R&D programs of nano-medicines, 3D-GOLD, and TIMES drug discovery platforms.