Antisoma: Strong preclinical data supports AS1404 phase 2 trials in cancer patients

By E. Janene Geiss

Philadelphia, Feb. 6 - Antisoma said Monday that its vascular disrupting agent AS1404 has shown strong preclinical data supporting three phase 2 trials evaluating the benefit of adding the agent to a taxane-based regimen to treat lung, prostate and ovarian cancers.

In animal models of lung, prostate and ovarian cancers, the addition of AS1404 to the appropriate taxane-regimen provided clear additional benefits compared with the taxane alone, according to a company news release.

Some cures were seen among animals treated with AS1404-taxane combinations, but not in any of those receiving a taxane alone, officials said.

Antisoma said it expects to report key data on time-to-tumor progression from the phase 2 lung cancer study during the first half of this year. The company also said it expects to report findings from the trials in prostate and ovarian cancers during 2006.

The company presented this preclinical data Saturday at the 8th International Symposium on Anti-Angiogenic Agents in La Jolla, Calif.

"In reporting encouraging preliminary findings from our phase 2 study of AS1404 in lung cancer late last year, we became the first company with data from a randomized study of a vascular disrupting agent and are now clearly established as a leading player in this field," Gly Edwards, chief executive officer, said in the release.

AS1404 (DMXAA) is a small-molecule vascular disrupting agent that targets the blood vessels that nourish tumors. The drug was discovered by professors Bruce Baguley and William Denny and their teams at the Auckland Cancer Society Research Center, University of Auckland, New Zealand. It was in-licensed by Antisoma from Cancer Research Ventures Ltd. in August 2001.

Preclinical evidence shows that the drug significantly enhances the efficacy of various chemotherapy drugs, complementing their action on tumors.

Antisoma's program of phase 2 trials combines AS1404 with established chemotherapy treatments. The program includes separate randomized, controlled trials in lung, prostate and ovarian cancers.

Based in London, 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 recognized academic or cancer research institutions.

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