Synta Announces Upcoming Presentations at the 15th World Conference on Lung Cancer

Webcast and conference call scheduled for 8 AM ET on Monday, October 28

LEXINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 23, 2013-- Synta Pharmaceuticals Corp. (NASDAQ: SNTA) today announced that results from the GALAXY-1 trial, which evaluates the Company’s lead drug candidate ganetespib in patients with advanced non-small cell lung adenocarcinoma, will be presented during an oral session at the 15thWorld Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) in Sydney, Australia:

“Randomized Phase II study of docetaxel with or without ganetespib in advanced lung adenocarcinoma: Results in biomarker sub-groups and all adenocarcinoma patients”

Abstract #: O03.01
Session: Oral Abstract Session, NSCLC – Targeted Therapies I
Date and time: Monday, October 28. 10:30 AM12:00 PM local time
Location: Bayside Auditorium B, Level 1
Presenter: Suresh Ramalingam, M.D., Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA

Results will be presented from the analysis planned for one year from the last patient enrolled in the 253-patient primary enrollment phase of GALAXY-1. The Company expects to release these results on Saturday, October 26, 2013, concurrent with the beginning of the WCLC meeting.

Based upon the number of overall survival events, Synta expects that the final overall survival analysis of GALAXY-1 will be conducted by early 2014.

Other presentations

Additional ganetespib presentations at the WCLC include:

“Antimetastatic activity of ganetespib: preclinical studies and assessment of new lesion growth in the GALAXY-1 NSCLC trial”

Abstract #: P1.01-007
Session: Poster Session 1 – Cancer Biology
Date and Time: Monday, October 28. 9:30 AM4:30 PM local time
Location: Exhibit Hall, Ground Level
Presenter: Vojo Vukovic, M.D., Ph.D., Synta Pharmaceuticals, Lexington, MA

“Novel mechanisms of sensitivity and acquired resistance to Hsp90 inhibition by ganetespib”

Abstract #: MO12.01
Session: Prognostic and Predictive Biomarkers III
Date and Time: Tuesday, October 29. 10:30 AM12:00 PM local time
Location: Parkside Ballroom B, Level 1
Presenter: Sara Busacca, Ph.D., University of Leicester, Leicester, UK

Conference call

Synta will host a webcast and conference call at 8:00 AM ET on Monday, October 28, 2013, to discuss these results.

The webcast, which will include both audio and slides, can be accessed by visiting the home page or the Investor Relations section of the Synta Pharmaceuticals website, www.syntapharma.com.

The conference call can be accessed by dialing (877) 407-8035 (U.S.) or (201) 689-8035 (International). Participants can follow along with a prepared slide presentation that will be available on the home page of the company’s website, www.syntapharma.com. For those unable to join the live call, a replay will be available from 12:00 PM ET on October 28 through 11:59 PM ET on November 4. To access the replay, please dial (877) 660-6853 (U.S.) or (201) 612-7415 (International) and refer to conference ID 10000731.

About Ganetespib

Ganetespib, an investigational drug candidate, is a selective inhibitor of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90), a molecular chaperone which controls the folding and activation of a number of client proteins that drive tumor development and progression. Many solid and hematologic tumors are dependent on Hsp90 client proteins including proteins involved in “oncogene addiction” (ALK, HER2, mutant BRAF and EGFR, androgen receptor, estrogen receptor, JAK2); proteins involved in resistance to chemotherapy and radiation therapy (ATR, BCL2, BRCA1/2, CDK1/4, CHK1, survivin, and WEE1); proteins involved in angiogenesis (HIF-1alpha, VEGFR, PDFGR, and VEGF); and proteins involved in metastasis (MET, RAF, AKT, MMPs, HIF-1alpha, and IGF-1R). In preclinical models, inhibition of Hsp90 by ganetespib results in the inactivation, destabilization, and eventual degradation of these cancer-promoting proteins. Ganetespib is being evaluated in trials in lung cancer, breast cancer, and other tumor types. The most common adverse event seen to date has been transient, mild or moderate diarrhea, which has been manageable with standard supportive care. Information on these trials can be found at www.clinicaltrials.gov. Ganetespib has received Fast Track designation from FDA for second-line treatment of non-small cell lung adenocarcinoma in combination with docetaxel.

About the GALAXY Program

The GALAXY (Ganetespib Assessment in Lung cAncer with docetaXel) program consists of two randomized trials comparing the combination of ganetespib and docetaxel versus docetaxel alone in patients with Stage IIIB/IV NSCLC who have received one prior systemic therapy: a 300-patient Phase 2b/3 trial (GALAXY-1) to determine the patient population most likely to derive benefit from ganetespib, and a 500-patient confirmatory Phase 3 trial (GALAXY-2). More information about the GALAXY trials can be found at www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01348126 and NCT01798485).

About Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in the world, accounting for nearly 1.4 million deaths in 2008, according to the World Health Organization. The five-year survival rate for this disease is approximately 16%; over half of people with lung cancer die within one year of being diagnosed. In the U.S., the American Cancer Society estimates that 228,000 cases of lung cancer will be diagnosed in 2013. Non-small cell adenocarcinoma comprises about 40% of all lung cancer.

About Synta Pharmaceuticals

Synta Pharmaceuticals Corp. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing small molecule drugs to extend and enhance the lives of patients with severe medical conditions, including cancer and chronic inflammatory diseases. Synta has a unique chemical compound library, an integrated discovery engine, and a diverse pipeline of clinical- and preclinical-stage drug candidates with distinct mechanisms of action and novel chemical structures. All Synta drug candidates were invented by Synta scientists using our compound library and discovery capabilities. For more information, please visit www.syntapharma.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This media release may contain forward-looking statements about Synta Pharmaceuticals Corp. Such forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "will", "would", "should", "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "plans", "believes", "may", "estimates", "predicts", "projects", or similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements, including statements relating to the timing of the final overall survival analysis from the GALAXY-1 trial, reflect our current views with respect to future events and are based on assumptions and subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including those described in "Risk Factors" of our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Synta undertakes no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Source: Synta Pharmaceuticals Corp.

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