group treated with entinostat and erlotinib was 3.7 months vs. 1.9 months for the group treated with placebo and erlotinib (Hazard ratio 0.55) with a p-value of 0.19. The median survival was 9.4 months in the subgroup treated with entinostat and erlotinib vs. 5.4 months for those treated with placebo and erlotinib (Hazard ratio 0.36) with a p-value of 0.03.

Entinostat/erlotinib was tolerable with no unexpected adverse events and a manageable safety profile.

"Directing therapy based on the individual biology of a patient's tumor is finally driving better outcomes for patients with lung cancer," said Joanna Horobin, M.D., president and chief executive officer of Syndax. "Having seen improvement in PFS and overall survival in patients with tumors expressing high levels of e-cadherin who received entinostat and erlotinib, we now have a clear path forward. We look to add to treatment options as we evaluate entinostat with erlotinib in further randomized studies to be initiated next year in a selected patient population of NSCLC patients with high levels of E-cadherin."

The abstract "Molecular Analysis Identifies A Subset Of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Patients With Differential Sensitivity To Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor (hdaci) / Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor (egfr-tki) Treatment" was accepted as a late-breaker and will be given as an oral presentation at a scientific session at 2:15 p.m. on Friday, December 10, 2010.

SOURCE Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc.