CytRx Announces Publication of Paper Stating that Chaperone Amplification Represents a 'Significant Strategy' in Anti-aging Pharmaceutical Design

CytRx Corporation (NASDAQ:CYTR), a biopharmaceutical company and a leader in molecular chaperone regulation technology, today announced that a paper published in the peer-reviewed journal Gerontology concluded that molecular chaperone amplification may represent a "significant strategy" in the future design of anti-aging pharmaceuticals. The paper's authors, led by Stuart K. Calderwood, Ph.D., of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, reviewed 40 clinical and animal studies in peer-reviewed publications and found that molecular chaperones play an important role in the deterrence of protein damage during the aging process and that chaperone expression is required for cell longevity.

"This extensive review of scientific data from multiple clinicians provides independent verification of the considerable potential of molecular chaperones in designing pharmaceuticals to treat a multitude of age-related diseases and disorders. This opens new blockbuster opportunities for our molecular chaperone technology beyond the large neurodegenerative disease, stroke recovery and neuropathy markets that we have been investigating," said CytRx's President and CEO Steven A. Kriegsman. "The abstract's conclusions add to the continually growing validation in the scientific literature of the tremendous commercial potential of our chaperone amplifying drug candidates. Several interested pharmaceutical suitors are currently evaluating potential partnerships aimed at advancing development of this technology, which will allow for greater internal focus on developing our considerable oncology assets."

In the paper, "The Shock of Aging: Molecular Chaperones and the Heat Shock Response in Longevity and Aging -- A Mini-Review," in the September 2009 edition of Gerontology (volume 55, pages 550-558), the authors found that molecular chaperone expression declines with aging, setting the stage for more interrogation of the role of molecular chaperone amplification in aging and longevity in human patients.

Jack Barber, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer, commented, "The authors' conclusion of the importance of chaperones in aging coincides with our data indicating the potential of arimoclomol and iroxanadine in age-progressive indications, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease, as well as diabetes and its complications, cardiovascular disease, and stroke. The authors speculated that one of the ways to accomplish a pharmacologic stimulation of chaperone synthesis is to activate the transcriptional regulator Heat Shock Factor-1 (HSF-1), and that is exactly the mechanism by which arimoclomol and iroxanadine are thought to work."

CytRx has submitted a revised protocol to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its clinical trial with arimoclomol as a treatment for ALS with the expectation that the clinical hold will be lifted in the current quarter.

Molecular Chaperone Technology

CytRx currently has two orally administered, clinical-stage molecular chaperone drug candidates and recently discovered a series of additional compounds that may provide a pipeline for additional drug candidates. The Company's drug candidates are believed to function by regulating a normal cellular protein repair pathway through the activation or inhibition of "molecular chaperones." Because damaged proteins are thought to play a role in many diseases, activation of molecular chaperones that help to reduce the accumulation of misfolded proteins may have therapeutic efficacy in a broad range of disease states. Similarly, CytRx believes that the inhibition of molecular chaperones that normally help protect cancer cells from toxic misfolded proteins may result in the selective destruction of cancer cells.

About CytRx Corporation

CytRx Corporation is a biopharmaceutical research and development company engaged in the development of high-value human therapeutics. The CytRx drug development pipeline includes programs in clinical development for cancer indications, including tamibarotene in a potential registration study for the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). In addition, CytRx is developing two drug candidates based on its industry-leading molecular chaperone technology, which aims to repair or degrade misfolded proteins associated with disease. CytRx also maintains a 36% equity interest in publicly traded RXi Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:RXII). For more information on the Company, visit www.cytrx.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from the events or results described in the forward-looking statements, including risks related to the timing, outcome or results of future clinical testing of molecular chaperone regulators, uncertainties related to the fact that the studies described were not conducted by or at the direction of CytRx, and CytRx has not independently reviewed the study data, the risk that CytRx will be unable to secure a partnership to fund any further development of arimoclomol for ALS, including any Phase II clinical trial, uncertainties related the timing and ability to resume clinical testing at the desired dosage of arimoclomol, the risk that the requirements imposed on the Company's planned clinical trial designs for ALS by the FDA as expressed in its recent written correspondence might adversely affect or delay the Company's ability ultimately to demonstrate that arimoclomol is efficacious in treating ALS, increase the cost of clinical development, adversely affect the Company's ability to enter into a partnership related to the future development of arimoclomol for ALS or any other indication, or cause the cancellation of the trial altogether, risks related to CytRx's need for additional capital or strategic partnerships to fund its ongoing working capital needs and development efforts, risks related to the future market value of CytRx's investment in RXi and the liquidity of that investment, and the risks and uncertainties described in the most recent annual and quarterly reports filed by CytRx with the Securities and Exchange Commission and current reports filed since the date of CytRx's most recent annual report. All forward-looking statements are based upon information available to CytRx on the date the statements are first published. CytRx undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE: CytRx Corporation

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