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Based
in London, UK, Antisoma is a biopharmaceutical company that develops novel
products for the treatment of cancer. Antisoma fills its development pipeline
by acquiring promising new product candidates from internationally recognised
academic or cancer research institutions. Its core activity is the preclinical
and clinical development of these drug candidates
Antisoma
announces positive phase I data on AS1411, plans phase II trials in renal
and blood cancers
London,
UK, and Istanbul, Turkey, 2 October 2006 - Antisoma today announces the
presentation of positive phase I results for its aptamer drug AS1411. Findings
in renal cancer are particularly strong. Antisoma will therefore proceed
to a phase II trial in this indication. Antisoma will also initiate a phase
II trial in a blood cancer indication. Both trials are expected to start
in 2007.
The
phase I trial of AS1411 initially recruited patients with various cancers.
During 2005, it was extended to recruit additional patients with renal
and lung cancers.
Twelve
renal cancer patients were treated. All had advanced, metastatic disease
and most had failed prior treatments. Nine (75%) showed clinical benefit,
with seven having stable disease for two months or more and two (17%) having
objective responses. These are very encouraging results for patients with
this stage of disease.
Antisoma
presents positive PSA data from AS1404 phase II trial in prostate cancer
London,
UK and Boston, Mass: 18 September 2006 - Cancer drug developer Antisoma
plc (LSE: ASM, US OTC: ATSMY) announces the presentation of the first findings
from its ongoing phase II trial of AS1404 in hormone-refractory prostate
cancer. These show a markedly higher rate of PSA responses among men receiving
AS1404. Preliminary data from the first 64 of 74 patients in the trial
show a PSA response rate of 57% in those receiving AS1404 plus docetaxel
chemotherapy compared with 35% in those receiving docetaxel alone. In addition,
the proportion of men showing disease progression by PSA was almost halved
in the AS1404 group (17% versus 29% with docetaxel alone). The findings
were presented yesterday at the Tumor Microenvironment meeting in Boston
by Dr Gary Acton, Antisoma's Chief Medical Officer.
Antisoma
selects renal cancer and melanoma as phase I indications for AS1409
London,
UK: 29 August 2006 - Cancer drug developer Antisoma plc (LSE: ASM; USOTC:
ATSMY) today announces that its forthcoming phase I trial of AS1409 will
enrol patients with renal cancer and melanoma. High levels of the drug's
target are found in these cancers.
AS1409
is a fusion protein with two components. One is the cytokine IL12, which
is known to have anti-cancer effects. The other is an antibody that binds
to EDB fibronectin, a protein associated with tumour blood vessels in a
wide range of cancers. AS1409 is designed to be a targeted therapy that
delivers IL12 specifically to tumours. Xenograft studies in mice with prostate,
colorectal and skin cancers have shown that AS1409 blocks cancer growth
more effectively than an equivalent dose of untargeted IL12. AS1409 is
also expected to cause fewer side effects than IL12 alone.
AS1409
has potential against various tumours. Past clinical trials have suggested
that melanoma and renal cancer are particularly sensitive to IL12. These
cancers were therefore tested for EDB fibronectin to assess the potential
for targeting by AS1409. Samples from 15 melanoma and 20 renal cancer patients
were clearly positive, showing these cancers to be suitable for the initial
evaluation of the drug.
Antisoma's
CEO, Glyn Edwards, said: "AS1409 is an exciting prospect and we're pleased
to have taken another step closer to the clinic with a rational choice
of cancer indications for our forthcoming phase I trial." |
