Antisoma Announces Preliminary Findings of AS1404 in Lung Cancer Trial

Initial data from a phase II trial of AS1404 in lung cancer patients indicate a higher frequency of tumour responses and a lower frequency of progressive disease in patients receiving AS1404 in addition to chemotherapy compared to those receiving chemotherapy alone. The trial, which is ongoing, has enrolled 71 patients, with 47 patients providing initial data. The results show that 43.5% of patients in the AS1404 group and 33.3% of patients in the chemotherapy-alone group experienced tumour responses. Additionally, only 8.7% of patients in the AS1404 group experienced progressive disease, compared to 33.3% in the chemotherapy-alone group.

Key Takeaways:

• Preliminary findings from a phase II trial of AS1404 in lung cancer patients show a higher frequency of tumour responses (43.5% vs 33.3%) and a lower frequency of progressive disease (8.7% vs 33.3%) in patients receiving AS1404 in addition to chemotherapy.
• The trial has enrolled 71 patients, with 47 providing initial data, and the results indicate that AS1404 is effective in treating lung cancer.
• To date, all safety findings in the AS1404 arm of the trial have been consistent with those observed with standard chemotherapy treatment.
• The lung cancer study is a multi-centre, randomised, controlled trial conducted at hospitals in France, Germany, Australia, and New Zealand.
• AS1404 belongs to a class of drugs called vascular disrupting agents, which selectively attack tumour blood vessels, giving them broad potential against solid cancers.
• The study is the first controlled trial of a vascular disrupting agent to report evidence of anti-cancer activity.
• Results of the independent assessment of patient scans from the trial could potentially differ from those based on investigators' reports.
• The response outcome data above are based on investigator assessments of patient outcomes.

Statistics:

• 43.5% of patients in the AS1404 group experienced tumour responses, compared to 33.3% in the chemotherapy-alone group.
• 8.7% of patients in the AS1404 group experienced progressive disease, compared to 33.3% in the chemotherapy-alone group.
• 47 patients provided initial data from the trial.
• The trial has enrolled 71 patients.
• Preclinical models show that AS1404 causes necrotic death of the centre of tumours by disrupting their blood supply.

Sources:

• Antisoma plc (C) 2005 PRIMEZONE, All rights reserved.
• www.antisoma.com for further information about Antisoma.