EXHIBIT 99.2
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Letterhead}
ACCESS
NEWS
Contact:
Company Contact:Investor
Relations
Stephen
B. Thompson Donald C. Weinberger/Diana Bittner
(media)
Vice
President, Chief Financial Officer Wolfe Axelrod Weinberger Assoc.
LLC
Access
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (212)
370-4500
(214)
905-5100
ACCESS PHARMACEUTICALS
CLOSES ACQUISITION OF MACROCHEM CORP.
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Acquisition of Four Clinical Stage Product Candidates Adds to Robust Pipeline
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DALLAS,
TX, February 26, 2009, Access Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (OTCBB:ACCP) announced today
that it has closed the acquisition of MacroChem Corporation through the issuance
of 2.5 million shares of Access Pharmaceuticals’ common stock, as previously
announced. Access gains the rights to MacroChem’s product portfolio which
includes two clinical stage oncology products, 4-thio Ara-C (Thiarabine), which
is a next generation nucleoside analogue licensed from Southern Research
Institute and sodium phenylbutyrate, which is licensed from the NIH. MacroChem’s
portfolio of late stage clinical drug candidates includes Pexiganan, a novel
topical anti-infective for the treatment of diabetic foot infection that has
already completed two Phase 3 clinical trials; EcoNail, a novel topical
treatment for onychomycosis that completed a Phase 2 clinical trial; and two
proprietary dermatology drug platforms, SEPA® and MacroDerm.
“The
acquisition of MacroChem brings additional late-stage clinical drug candidates
into the Access pipeline,” stated Jeffrey B. Davis, Access’ President and CEO.
“We are currently active in partnering and out-licensing discussions, and
MacroChem’s assets will be added to that partnering effort. The oncology assets
are highly synergistic with the oncology development efforts ongoing at Access
and we look forward to the opportunity to move them along in the
clinic.”
About
Thiarabine: Thiarabine, or 4-thio Ara-C, is a next generation
nucleoside analogue licensed from Southern Research Institute. The compound has
been in two Phase 1/2 solid tumor human clinical trials and was shown to have
anti-tumor activity. Access is working with leukemia and lymphoma specialists at
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and intends to initiate additional Phase
2 clinical trials in adult AML, ALL and other indications.
About
Pexiganan: Pexiganan is a novel topical broad-spectrum
antibiotic being developed for the treatment of mild-to-moderate diabetic foot
ulcer infections. Pexiganan has been through two Phase 3 clinical
trials, the data of which was presented last December 15, 2008 in the journal
Clinical Infectious Diseases. Access is actively seeking co-development partners
for Pexiganan.
About
EcoNail: EcoNail is a proprietary lacquer formulation of the
anti-fungal econazole and MacroChem’s SEPA for the treatment of onychomycosis.
EcoNail recently completed a Phase 2 clinical trial and the company is currently
evaluating its development and partnering strategy.
About
Phenylbutyrate: Sodium phenylbutyrate, an HDAC inhibitor, has
been investigated in multiple Phase 1/2 NIH and clinician-sponsored trials, and
is currently approved by the FDA for the treatment of hyperuremia, a pediatric
orphan indication.
About Access: Access Pharmaceuticals,
Inc. is an emerging biopharmaceutical company that develops and commercializes
propriety products for the treatment and supportive care of cancer patients.
Access' products include ProLindac™, currently in Phase 2 clinical testing of
patients with ovarian cancer, and MuGard™ for the management of patients with
mucositis. The company also has other advanced drug delivery technologies
including Cobalamin™-mediated targeted delivery and oral drug delivery, its
proprietary nanopolymer delivery technology based on the natural vitamin B12
uptake mechanism; Angiolix®, a humanized monoclonal antibody which acts as an
anti-angiogenesis factor and is targeted to breast cancer; Prodrax®, a non-toxic
prodrug which is activated in the hypoxic zones of solid tumors to kill cancer
cells; Alchemix, a chemotherapeutic agent that combines multiple modes of action
to overcome drug resistance. Access is also developing Phenylbutyrate, an HDAC
inhibitor and differentiating agent currently a Phase 2 clinical candidate. For
additional information on Access Pharmaceuticals, please visit our website at
www.accesspharma.com
..
This
press release contains certain statements that are forward-looking within the
meaning of Section 27a of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and that
involve risks and uncertainties. These statements include those relating
to: clinical trial plans and timelines and clinical results for ProLindac and
product candidates acquired in the MacroChem transaction, our ability to execute
licensing agreements in the future, Access’ plans to continue and initiate
clinical trials, the value of its products in the market, its ability to achieve
clinical and commercial success and its ability to successfully develop marketed
products. These statements are subject to numerous risks, including but not
limited Access’ need to obtain additional financing in order to continue the
clinical trial and operations and to the risks detailed in Access’ Annual
Reports on Form 10-K and other reports filed by Access with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
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