UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

GTx, Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		005-79588 (Commission File Number)		62-1715807 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

3 N. Dunlap Street
Van Vleet Building
Memphis, Tennessee 38163
(901) 523-9700
(Address, including zip code, of Registrant’s principal executive offices
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code,)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

o		Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o		Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o		Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o		Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

ITEM 8.01 Other Events.

On February 18, 2009, GTx, Inc. issued a press release announcing that the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for filing and review the New Drug Application (NDA) for toremifene 80 mg, an oral selective estrogen receptor modulator, which GTx seeks to market for the prevention of bone fractures in men with prostate cancer on androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), a copy of which is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report.

This release is furnished by GTx pursuant to Item 2.02 of Form 8-K and is not to be considered “filed” under the Exchange Act, and shall not be incorporated by reference into any previous or future filing by the Registrant under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.

ITEM 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

     (c) Exhibits

Exhibit
Number		Description
99.1		Press Release issued by GTx, Inc. dated February 18, 2009

SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Exhibit 99.1

Contact:
McDavid Stilwell
Director, Corporate Communications & Financial Analysis
GTx, Inc.
901-523-9700

GTx Announces Toremifene 80 mg NDA Accepted for Review by FDA

Memphis, Tenn, February 18, 2009 – GTx, Inc. (Nasdaq: GTXI) announced today that the United States Food and Drug Administration has accepted for filing and review the New Drug Application (NDA) for toremifene 80 mg, an oral selective estrogen receptor modulator, which GTx seeks to market for the prevention of bone fractures in men with prostate cancer on androgen deprivation therapy (ADT).

The NDA is supported by results from a two year, double blind, placebo controlled, randomized Phase III clinical trial of 1,382 men with advanced prostate cancer on ADT.

GTx expects to hear within several weeks whether the NDA will receive priority or standard review.

About Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the second most common type of cancer diagnosed in men in the U.S. An estimated 186,000 new cases of prostate cancer were diagnosed in the U.S. in 2008.

About ADT

ADT, primary treatment for advanced prostate cancer, has improved survival in men with prostate cancer. Approximately 700,000 men with prostate cancer are being treated with ADT and an estimated 100,000 are anticipated to initiate ADT each year.

ADT works by reducing testosterone to castrate levels. Testosterone, through the process of aromatization, is converted to estrogen. Healthy elderly men actually have higher levels of estrogen than do postmenopausal women. Because ADT reduces testosterone levels by up to 95%, it also substantially depletes estrogen levels.

Although estrogen is commonly thought of as a female sex hormone, it plays a critical role in men’s health. Estradiol is the primary hormone responsible for bone turnover and bone quality. It is also important for cognition and the regulation of certain central nervous system functions and metabolism. Depletion of estrogen can result in serious side effects of ADT, including a high risk of bone fractures, adverse lipid changes and increased risk of cardiovascular disease, as well as common symptomatic side effects such as growth of breast tissue often accompanied by tenderness and pain, and hot flashes.

Of patients on ADT, up to 77 percent develop significant bone loss, making them susceptible to fracture. Recent studies indicate that the annual risk of fracture in men on ADT is 5% to 8%, or three times higher than the risk of fracture for postmenopausal women. Fractures are serious and can reduce survival in men on ADT by more than three years.

About GTx

GTx, Inc., headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development, and commercialization of small molecules that selectively target hormone pathways to treat cancer, osteoporosis and bone loss, muscle loss and other serious medical conditions. GTx is developing toremifene citrate, a selective estrogen receptor modulator, or SERM, in two separate clinical programs in men: first, a completed pivotal Phase III clinical trial evaluating toremifene 80 mg for the prevention of bone fractures and treatment of other estrogen side effects in men with prostate cancer on androgen deprivation therapy, and second, an ongoing pivotal Phase III clinical trial evaluating toremifene 20 mg for the prevention of prostate cancer in high risk men with high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia, or PIN. In 2006, GTx and Ipsen entered into a development and collaboration agreement for toremifene citrate in all indications except breast cancer for Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). GTx has submitted a NDA for toremifene 80 mg for the prevention of bone fractures in men with prostate cancer on ADT and, if approved, plans to commercialize toremifene 80 mg in the United States. In December 2007, GTx and Merck formed a collaboration to discover and develop selective androgen receptor modulators, or SARMs, a new class of drugs with the potential to treat sarcopenia, which is the loss of skeletal muscle mass resulting in reduced physical strength and ability to perform activities of daily living, as well as cancer cachexia (cancer induced muscle loss) and other musculoskeletal wasting conditions. Merck and GTx are evaluating multiple SARM product candidates, including Ostarine™ (designated by Merck as MK-2866) for sarcopenia in several Phase I and II clinical development programs. Merck and GTx are evaluating additional muscle loss indications including cancer cachexia for potential SARM clinical development. GTx also is developing its preclinical compound GTx-758, an oral luteinizing hormone inhibitor, for advanced prostate cancer.

Forward-Looking Information is Subject to Risk and Uncertainty

This press release contains forward-looking statements based upon GTx’s current expectations. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. GTx’s actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation, the risks that (i) GTx and its collaboration partners will not be able to commercialize their product candidates if clinical trials do not demonstrate safety and efficacy in humans; (ii) GTx may not be able to obtain required regulatory approvals to commercialize product candidates; (iii) clinical trials being conducted by GTx and its collaboration partners may not be completed on schedule, or at all, or may otherwise be suspended or terminated; and (iv) GTx could utilize its available cash resources sooner than it currently expects and may be unable to raise capital when needed, which would force GTx to delay, reduce or eliminate its product development programs or commercialization efforts. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this press release. GTx’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed November 6, 2008 contains under the heading, “Risk Factors,” a more comprehensive description of these and other risks to which GTx is subject. GTx expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based.