In July 2012, it was announced that Synergy Pharmaceuticals - focused on gastrointestinal conditions - was to merge wth Callisto in a tex free stock swap. As of January 2013, Callisto stock was converted to those of Synergy (Nasdaq:SGYP) and all actvities formerly of Callisto were concluded. Traded first on AMEX and then on OTC, in 2002, Callisto Pharmaceuticals, Inc had done a reverse merger with an all but defunct Publicly traded firm. Callisto had been a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of new drugs to treat various forms of cancer. The firm's drug candidates had included anti-cancer agents in clinical development, in addition to drugs in pre-clinical development for other significant health care markets, including ulcerative colitis. One of the Company's lead drug candidates, Atiprimod, iwas targted to treatment of advanced carcinoid cancer, a neuroendocrine tumor, and relapsed multiple myeloma, a blood cancer. Another anti-cancer drug, L-Annamycin, was being developed as a treatment for forms of relapsed or refractory acute leukemia, a currently incurable blood cancer. Callisto initiated a clinical trial of L-Annamycin in adult relapsed or refractory acute lymphocytic leukemia patients in 4Q 2005. L-Annamycin, a new compound from the anthracycline family of proven anti-cancer drugs, has a novel therapeutic profile, including activity against resistant diseases and significantly reduced cardiotoxicity, or damage to the heart, compared to currently available drug alternatives. Callisto also has drugs in preclinical development for gastro-intestinal inflammation, and cancer. Callisto has exclusive worldwide licenses from AnorMED Inc. and M.D. Anderson Cancer Center to develop, manufacture, use and sell Atiprimod and L-Annamycin, respectively.
