Syndax Appoints Lisa M. Coussens, Ph.D., to Scientific Advisory Board

WALTHAM, Mass., Jan. 31, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Syndax," the “Company” or "we") (Nasdaq:SNDX), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing entinostat and SNDX-6352 in multiple cancer indications, today announced the appointment of Lisa M. Coussens, Ph.D., to its Scientific Advisory Board.

Dr. Coussens currently serves as the Chair of the Department of Cell Developmental & Cancer Biology and Associate Director for Basic Research at the Knight Cancer Institute at the Oregon Health & Sciences University (OHSU). Through her research, she has identified critical immune-regulated pathways that can be targeted therapeutically to block or slow cancer development.

Additionally, Dr. Coussens holds the Hildegard Lamfrom Chair in Basic Science at OHSU and serves as an adjunct professor at the University of California, San Francisco. In recognition of her research contributions to studying underlying mechanisms of cancer development, Dr. Coussens was awarded a V Foundation Scholar Award (2000), the Gertrude B. Elion Award (2001), two Era of Hope Scholar Awards (2006, 2011), the AACR-Women in Cancer Research Charlotte Friend Memorial Lectureship (2012), and the 13^th Rosalind E. Franklin Award from the NCI (2015). Dr. Coussens earned her doctorate in biological chemistry from the University of California, Los Angeles.

"Lisa brings a significant wealth of both scientific and clinical knowledge to our scientific advisory board through her deep understanding of immune-regulated pathways in the tumor microenvironment," said Briggs W. Morrison, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Syndax. "Her expertise directly complements the depth of our existing advisory board, and will help in advancing the development of both entinostat and SNDX-6352 in multiple cancer indications. We welcome Dr. Coussens to the Syndax team, where we remain committed to our mission of realizing a future in which cancer patients live longer and better lives than previously possible."

About Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Syndax is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing an innovative pipeline of combination therapies in multiple cancer indications. Our lead product candidate, entinostat, which was granted Breakthrough Therapy designation by the FDA following positive results from our Phase 2b clinical trial, ENCORE 301, is currently being evaluated in a Phase 3 clinical trial for advanced hormone receptor positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative breast cancer. Syndax is developing entinostat, which has direct effects on both cancer cells and immune regulatory cells, and SNDX-6352, an anti-CSF-1R monoclonal antibody, to enhance the body's immune response on tumors that have shown sensitivity to immunotherapy. Entinostat is being evaluated as a combination therapeutic in Phase 1b/2 clinical trials with Merck & Co., Inc. for non-small cell lung cancer and melanoma; with Genentech, Inc. for TNBC; and with Pfizer Inc. and Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, for ovarian cancer. SNDX-6352 is being evaluated in a single ascending dose Phase 1 clinical trial and is expected to be developed to treat a variety of cancers. For more information on Syndax, please visit www.syndax.com. 

Syndax's Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "may," "will," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "believe" and similar expressions (as well as other words or expressions referencing future events, conditions or circumstances) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on Syndax's expectations and assumptions as of the date of this press release. Each of these forward-looking statements involves risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements about the progress, timing, clinical development and scope of clinical trials and the reporting of clinical data for Syndax's product candidates, and the potential use of SNDX-6352 to treat various cancer indications. Many factors may cause differences between current expectations and actual results including unexpected safety or efficacy data observed during preclinical or clinical studies, clinical trial site activation or enrollment rates that are lower than expected, changes in expected or existing competition, changes in the regulatory environment, failure of Syndax's collaborators to support or advance collaborations or product candidates and unexpected litigation or other disputes. Other factors that may cause Syndax's actual results to differ from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements in this press release are discussed in Syndax's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the "Risk Factors" sections contained therein. Except as required by law, Syndax assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in expectations, even as new information becomes available.