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pharmafile | February 15, 2008 | News story | Research and Development |Â Â Â
Introgen and Moffitt initiate Phase II lung cancer trial
Introgen Therapeutics and Moffitt Cancer Center have reported that a randomized, controlled Phase II trial of INGN 225 has been initiated in patients with metastatic small-cell lung cancer or SCLC.
The trial will evaluate the efficacy and safety of INGN 225 in as many as 80 patients with extensive stage SCLC at multiple centers.
Patients with SCLC have an extremely poor prognosis despite frequent initial responses to chemotherapy. p53 abnormalities occur in the majority of SCLC patients and these patients are expected to be well-suited to the testing of the clinical efficacy of INGN 225. INGN 225 is a p53 immunotherapy using a patient's own cells to stimulate an anti-tumor immune response to fight cancer.
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Arius's therapeutic antibody inhibits leukemic cancer stem cells
Arius Research has said that in preclinical studies the company's anti-CD9 cancer stem cell antibody not only targeted leukemia cancer stem cells, but also led to a dramatic reduction in their capacity to self-renew or give rise to further leukemia.
The company has disclosed the activity of Arius's anti-CD9 antibody, AR40A746.2.3, against acute myeloid leukemia (AML). CD9 appears to be an important driver for leukemia and potentially other cancer stem cells, which often survive treatment, continue to multiply and go on to seed new tumors.
Daniel Pereira, vice president of research at Arius, said: "Our antibody also appears to be a specific cancer stem cell inhibitor, suggesting that it may become an important drug and forge new paths for the treatment of cancer."
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CMM and Qiagen collaborate in cancer diagnostics
The Center for Molecular Medicine or CMM has announced the formation of a collaborative effort with its affiliates and Qiagen to support research focused on discovering molecular biomarkers capable of helping diagnose breast cancer and other women's health issues.
Based on the result of Qiagen's initial research, the CMM may also provide laboratory-based genomics and proteomics services to assist Qiagen in the development and validation of new molecular diagnostic tests.
Daniel Farkas, executive director of CMM, said: "The speed and analytical depth of XenoBase coupled with the CMM's access to clinical samples can give Qiagen a competitive advantage in the development of new molecular diagnostic tests, especially in the field of oncology."
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YM Biosciences US enrolls first patient in Phase II brain cancer trial
YM BioSciences US has enrolled the first patient in its Phase II trial investigating nimotuzumab in pediatric patients with recurrent diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma or DIPG, a form of inoperable, treatment-resistant brain cancer.
The patient was treated at the M D Anderson Cancer Center under the care of Johannes Wolff. Nimotuzumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that targets the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR).
Eight leading US pediatric clinical centers and two Canadian centers will be participating in the single-arm trial, which is designed to enroll 44 patients with DIPG who will be treated with nimotuzumab as monotherapy. The primary endpoint of the current trial is Response Rate, with a target of 15%, and recruitment is expected to be completed within approximately 18 months.
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Archemix and NascaCell form drug discovery alliance
Archemix and NascaCell Technologies have reported an expansion of their strategic alliance focused on the use and development of aptamers for drug discovery applications.
Under the terms of the new agreement, NascaCell receives non-exclusive rights to uses of aptamers for target validation, mode of action studies, drug discovery, and aptamer structure-based drug design.
Future aptamer technology improvements will be cross-licensed between the companies and Archemix will have the option of contracting NascaCell to generate aptamers for its own applications.
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