WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind., Aug. 14, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Endocyte, Inc. (Nasdaq:ECYT), a biopharmaceutical company developing targeted small molecule drug conjugates (SMDCs) and companion imaging diagnostics for personalized therapy, today announced that three posters will be presented by Endocyte scientists at the 244th American Chemical Society (ACS) Meeting & Exposition to be held in Philadelphia, Aug. 19 – 23, 2012.

"Positive clinical data have already demonstrated the potential of Endocyte's highly versatile modular platform to develop SMDCs," said Iontcho Vlahov, Ph.D., vice president of discovery chemistry. "At this ACS meeting the focus of our first presentation is centered on a proprietary, large scale synthesis of a novel derivative of Tubulysin B, a super-potent chemotherapeutic agent. The advantage of this 'tailored' molecule for conjugation with our novel guidance system is demonstrated as well. Our second presentation reveals the design of dimer war heads, based on the powerful DNA-cross-linking drug Mitomycin C, and the third presentation details newly discovered regio-selectivities for conjugation to targeting ligands of the anti-cancer drugs Etoposide and Mithramycin." 

Presentations are as follows:

About Endocyte

Endocyte is a biopharmaceutical company developing targeted therapies for the treatment of cancer and inflammatory diseases. Endocyte uses its proprietary technology to create novel SMDCs and companion imaging diagnostics for personalized targeted therapies. The company's SMDCs actively target receptors that are over-expressed on diseased cells, relative to healthy cells. This targeted approach is designed to enable the treatment of patients with highly active drugs at greater doses, delivered more frequently, and over longer periods of time than would be possible with the untargeted drug alone. The companion imaging diagnostics are designed to identify patients whose disease over-expresses the target of the therapy and who are therefore more likely to benefit from treatment.

For additional information, please visit Endocyte's website at www.endocyte.com.

CONTACT: Stephanie Ascher, Stern Investor Relations, Inc.
         (212) 362-1200
         stephanie@sternir.com
         Martina Schwarzkopf, Ph.D., Russo Partners
         (212) 845-4292
         martina.schwarzkopf@russopartnersllc.com
         Tony Russo, Ph.D., Russo Partners
         (212) 845-4251
         tony.russo@russopartnersllc.com