Point reports additional responses in cancer trials

By Lisa Kerner

Erie, Pa., Feb. 2 - Point Therapeutics, Inc. reported an additional clinical response in both its metastatic non-small cell lung cancer and metastatic melanoma combination phase 2 studies.

The additional responder in the phase 2 metastatic non-small cell lung cancer study (combining talabostat with docetaxel) brings the total number of observed clinical responses to six, for an overall response rate of 14.3%, according to a company news release. Of the six responding patients, two experienced complete responses. Of the first 40 patients enrolled in the study, 48% have survived for at least 12 months.

In the phase 2 metastatic melanoma study combining talabostat with cisplatin, the additional clinical response brings to five the total number of responses observed to date. The overall response rate is 11.9%, the company said.

"We are very pleased by the clinical activity shown by talabostat thus far in all of our phase 2 trials. These results are especially noteworthy because of the advanced stage of disease of the patients in our trials," Dr. Margaret Uprichard, senior vice president and chief development officer of Point, said in the release.

Based on the clinical efficacy shown in the non-small cell lung cancer phase 2 trial, Point is enrolling patients in two randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind phase 3 studies.

"As an organization, we are committed to finding the right partner to help support the clinical program and the marketing and distribution of talabostat," Don Kiepert, Point president and chief executive officer, said in the release. "We are currently discussing the talabostat program with several potential partners and are targeting a collaboration in the second half of 2006."

Point is a Boston-based biopharmaceutical company developing a portfolio of dipeptidyl peptidase inhibitors for use in cancer, type 2 diabetes and as vaccine adjuvants.

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