Arno Therapeutics, Inc. Raises $15 Million in Private Placement To
Advance Clinical Development of Oncology Compounds
PARSIPPANY, N.J.,
September 13, 2010 -- Arno Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage
biopharmaceutical company focused on developing oncology
therapeutics, today announced that it has closed a private placement
of its securities resulting in gross proceeds to the company of over
$15 million. The financing included both new and existing investors
and was led by UTA Capital LLC and Pontifax Funds. Riverbank Capital
Inc., a FINRA member broker dealer, acted as placement agent.
"We are extremely pleased to have the continued support of the
investment community as we work to advance our promising
technologies for the treatment of cancer," said Arie Belldegrun,
M.D., FACS, Chairman of Arno. "We believe these funds will provide
us with sufficient capital to complete our on-going clinical trials
and generate meaningful clinical data."
The net proceeds of the financing will be used to advance Arno's
three clinical stage compounds:
- AR-12, is a
potentially first-in-class, orally available PDK1 inhibitor that
blocks the PI3K/Akt pathway and may also cause cell death
through the induction of endoplasmic reticulum stress. AR-12 is
currently being studied in a multi-centered Phase I clinical
trial in adult patients with advanced or recurrent solid tumors
or lymphoma.
- AR-67, is a novel,
third-generation camptothecin analogue that inhibits
Topoisomerase I activity. AR-67 has demonstrated activity and an
excellent safety profile in clinical studies as well as improved
pharmacokinetic properties when compared to approved
second-generation products Hycamtin® (topotecan) and Camptosar®
(irinotecan). AR-67 is currently enrolling patients in Phase II
clinical studies in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and
myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).
- AR-42 is an orally
available, broad spectrum inhibitor of both histone and non-histone
deacetylation proteins (a "pan-DAC"). AR-42 is currently being
studied in an investigator sponsored Phase I/IIa clinical study
in adult patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma
(MM), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or lymphoma. In
preclinical studies, AR-42 has compared favorably to vorinostat
("SAHA," or Zolinza®) and other deacetylase inhibitors. These
data demonstrate the potent and differentiating activity of
AR-42. Additionally, pre-clinical findings presented at the 2009
American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and
Exposition showed that AR-42 potently and selectively inhibits
leukemic stem cells in acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
Under the terms of a
Securities Purchase and Registration Rights Agreement, Arno sold
units consisting of an aggregate of approximately 15.1 million
shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (the "Preferred
Stock") and warrants to purchase up approximately 7.6 million
additional shares of the Preferred Stock. Each unit was sold at a
price equal to $1.00 per unit. Warrants to purchase approximately
1.2M shares of Preferred Stock are exercisable for two and one half
years at a price per share equal to $1.00, and warrants to purchase
approximately 6.4M shares of Preferred Stock are exercisable for
five years at a price per share equal to $1.15. Arno has agreed to
file a registration statement covering the resale of the shares of
common stock issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock issued
in the private placement, including the shares issuable upon
exercise of the warrants. Upon the effectiveness of the registration
statement all shares of Preferred Stock shall automatically convert
into shares of common stock of the Company, and the warrants to
purchase Preferred Stock shall thereafter convert to warrants to
purchase shares of common stock.
The securities sold in the private placement have not been registered under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United
States absent registration under such act and applicable state securities laws
or an applicable exemption from those registration requirements. This press
release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to
buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which
such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or
qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.
For more information on Arno please visit www.arnothera.com
Contact:
David M. Tanen
President
Arno Therapeutics, Inc.
(862) 703-7170
dt@arnothera.com
Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking
statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements,
other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release
regarding the timing, progress and anticipated results of the clinical
development, regulatory processes, potential clinical trial initiations,
potential IND and NDA filings, as well as our strategy, future operations,
outlook, milestones, the success of Arno's product development, future financial
position, future financial results, plans and objectives of management, are
forward-looking statements. We may not actually achieve these plans, intentions
or expectations and Arno cautions investors not to place undue reliance on our
forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially
from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking
statements we make. Various important factors could cause actual results or
events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements that we make.
Such factors include, among others, risks that the results of clinical trials
will not support our claims or beliefs concerning the effectiveness of our
product candidates, our ability to finance the development of our product
candidates, regulatory risks, and our reliance on third party researchers and
other collaborators. Arno is providing this information as of the date of this
presentation and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking
statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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