Antisoma's phase 2 study of AS1404 in ovarian cancer completes recruitment

By E. Janene Geiss

Philadelphia, March 20 - Antisoma plc announced Monday that it has completed recruitment of patients in its phase 2 trial of AS1404 in ovarian cancer. This keeps the company on course to report data from this trial during 2006.

Antisoma said it is conducting three separate phase 2 trials with AS1404 in lung, prostate and ovarian cancers. All evaluate the benefit of adding AS1404 to standard chemotherapy treatment, according to a company news release.

"During this year, nearly 100,000 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in Europe, North America and Japan. Many will receive platins and taxanes - drugs whose effects are greatly enhanced when combined with AS1404 in preclinical studies," chief executive officer Glyn Edwards said in the release.

The randomized, controlled trial includes about 70 patients in Europe, Australia and New Zealand with platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer.

Half of the patients are receiving standard chemotherapy treatment while the other half are receiving the same treatment plus AS1404.

The standard chemotherapy regime for these ovarian cancer patients is carboplatin and paclitaxel, the same as in the ongoing lung cancer study. Tumor response rates, time to tumor progression and survival will be compared to see whether patients on the AS1404-chemotherapy combination have better outcomes than those on chemotherapy alone, officials said.

AS1404 is a small-molecule vascular disrupting agent which targets the blood vessels that nourish tumors. 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 its action on tumors.

Antisoma's program of phase 2 trials combines AS1404 with established chemotherapy treatments. Preliminary findings from the lung cancer trial showed a higher frequency of tumor responses and a lower frequency of progressive disease in those patients receiving AS1404 in addition to chemotherapy.

Based in London, Antisoma is a biopharmaceutical company that develops novel products for the treatment of cancer.

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