Rexahn Pharmaceuticals (RNN) Publishes New Data on Anti-Cancer Isoquinolinamine Derivatives

ROCKVILLE, Md.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Rexahn Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE Amex: RNN), a clinical stage pharmaceutical company developing and commercializing potential best in class oncology and CNS therapeutics, today announced the publication of new preclinical data on the development of 3-aryl-1-isoquinolinamines in the European Journal & Medicinal Chemistry [45:5493-5497, 2010].

In the study, various substituted 3-aryl-1-isoquinolinamine derivatives were shown to have excellent cytotoxicity against eight different human cancer cells (breast, prostate, colon, ovary, kidney, pancreas, glioblastoma, melanoma). These derivatives were synthesized and evaluated through the constructed QSAR (quantitative structure-activity relationship) model and in vitro cell studies. QSAR technique is used in drug design and virtual screening to find lead compounds. The cytotoxic activities of new designed compounds are calculated using the constructed QSAR model and compared with actual cytotoxic data using the synthesized compounds.

“In this second published study, we further establish that isoquinolinamine derivatives, such as our anti-cancer compound RX-8243 – a new chemical entity – are potent anti-cancer compounds that have the potential to be developed into chemotherapeutic agents,” said Rick Soni, President of Rexahn.

Last month Rexahn announced the publication of new preclinical data in Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters demonstrating that RX-8243, an isoquinolinamine analogue, significantly inhibits the growth of human cancer cells, including paclitaxel (Taxol^®) resistant HCT-15 human colorectal cancer cells and the growth of tumor in in vivo model of nude mice injected with paclitaxel-resistant HCT-15 human colorectal cancer cells.

About Rexahn Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Rexahn Pharmaceuticals is a clinical stage pharmaceutical company dedicated to developing and commercializing best 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. For more information, please visit www.rexahn.com.

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