CytRx Corporation Announces Global Strategic License With NantCell Inc. For Aldoxorubicin, An Albumin Mediated Chemotherapeutic

CytRx Corporation, a biopharmaceutical research and development company specializing in oncology, today announced that it has entered into a global strategic license with NantCell, Inc., for the exclusive rights to develop and commercialize aldoxorubicin for all indications.  NantCell, a private subsidiary of NantWorks, LLC, is a clinical stage immuno-oncology company focused on developing novel molecularly targeted therapeutics including antibody, T-cell and NK cell based treatments for patients with cancer.  

"We are excited to forge this new relationship with NantCell. They are committed not just to bringing aldoxorubicin to the market for patients with soft tissue sarcomas, but to expand aldoxorubicin's potential use in combination with both immuno-oncology and cell based therapies to better serve patients suffering from cancer," said Steven A. Kriegsman, CytRx's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.  "This license and strategic investment will put aldoxorubicin in the hands of a committed partner who pioneered the development of albumin based chemotherapeutics, and will allow CytRx to continue to create new ultra-high potency drug candidates based on our LADR™ technology platform. Aldoxorubicin will clearly benefit from the first-hand experience of the NantCell management team led by Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, who developed and gained regulatory approval under a 505(b)(2) pathway and commercialized Abraxane®, an albumin-mediated cytotoxic agent which currently grosses approximately $1 billion in annual sales."

"Aldoxorubicin's distinct profile makes it the first anthracycline to allow for continuous dosing without increasing cardiac toxicity which would be beneficial for the 17 indications for which doxorubicin is currently approved and other indications where it could provide benefit," stated Dr. Soon-Shiong, NantCell's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.  "We aim to rapidly incorporate aldoxorubicin into multiple treatment protocols for major tumor types like breast and brain cancers as well as sarcomas."