New data indicates MedImmune's Abegrin may offer three-pronged approach to cancer therapy

By Lisa Kerner

Erie, Pa., April 10 - MedImmune, Inc. said it has collected additional preclinical and clinical data showing that Abegrin (formerly Vitaxin), a monoclonal antibody, may provide a three-pronged approach to treating solid tumors.

Abegrin targets the alpha-v beta-3 integrin, a protein expressed on the surface of newly forming blood vessels, certain tumor types and other cell types, including macrophages and osteoclasts.

The new data provides additional insight into the drug's mechanism of action, which is believed to inhibit tumor growth, bone metastases and angiogenesis, according to a company news release.

Specifically, the data support the overall survival results produced in a previously announced phase 2 trial with metastatic melanoma (skin cancer) patients. As a result, MedImmune said it will move ahead with a confirmatory phase 3 trial for Abegrin in patients with melanoma later this year.

"We were encouraged by results of our phase 2 study which suggested that Abegrin may prolong survival in melanoma patients," vice president, clinical development, oncology Dr. Dirk Reitsma said in the release.

The company also presented data from several preclinical studies and two phase 1 translational clinical trials with Abegrin at American Association for Cancer Research meeting. MedImmune said these studies incorporated the use of biomarkers, imaging techniques, and pharmacologic and pharmacodynamic endpoints to help determine the optimal dose of Abegrin.

Abegrin's mechanism of anti-tumor action may involve both direct and indirect effects on a tumor's ability to grow or spread. In addition, evaluation of dose response in four in vivo tumor models demonstrated that peak preclinical activity was achieved at comparable levels to those achieved in the phase 2 study, at a single dose of 8 mg/kg weekly, the release stated.

MedImmune is a Gaithersburg, Md.-based pharmaceutical company focused on infectious diseases, cancer and inflammatory diseases.

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