Magainin Pharmaceuticals Begins Additional Clinical Testing of Angiogenesis Inhibitor Squalamine in Advanced Cancers
Thursday February 17, 7:01 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
SOURCE: Magainin Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa., Feb. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Magainin Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: MAGN - news) today announced the commencement of additional clinical testing of squalamine, an angiogenesis inhibitor, in the treatment of patients with various advanced cancers, expected to include head and neck, gastric, esophageal, breast and uterine cancers. The study is being conducted at Georgetown University Medical Center, Lombardi Cancer Center, in Washington, D.C., under the direction of Dr. Naiyer Rizvi.
The study is designed to evaluate the safety of squalamine in combination with cis-platinum in advanced cancers, specifically solid tumors that have failed standard therapy or for which no standard therapy is available. The Company also has currently ongoing Phase II trials evaluating squalamine in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer and ovarian cancer.
Naiyer Rizvi, M.D., principal investigator for the study commented, ``Anti-angiogenic agents have great potential as novel therapies for cancer. Squalamine has demonstrated potent anti-angiogenic effects in multiple preclinical tumor models. The best activity in these models has been seen when squalamine is given in combination with platinum chemotherapy. The Lombardi Cancer Center is therefore pleased, having previously conducted the initial single agent safety testing of squalamine, to proceed with this trial to collect the first data on squalamine's safety and efficacy when combined with cis-platinum for patients with advanced cancer.'
Squalamine, discovered in the liver of the dogfish shark in 1992 by Dr. Michael Zasloff, is the first clinical drug candidate in a class of naturally occurring, pharmacologically active, small molecules known as aminosterols. Squalamine is an anti-angiogenic molecule with a unique mechanism of action that blocks endothelial (blood vessel) cell activation, migration and proliferation by multiple growth factors. Preclinical studies, including research conducted at Johns Hopkins Medical School, the Institute for Drug Development, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, University of Wisconsin, University of Virginia, and UCLA, have demonstrated that this multi-faceted approach may allow squalamine broad application across many cancer types and in proliferative eye diseases. Magainin anticipates commencing additional squalamine studies in small-cell lung cancer and pediatric cancer this year.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that about 550,000 Americans are expected to die of cancer this year, more than 1,500 people a day. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States, exceeded only by heart disease. In 2000, about 1,220,100 new cancer cases are expected to be diagnosed.
Magainin Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company with research and development efforts in anti-angiogenesis, respiratory disease and infectious disease.
This announcement contains certain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Such statements reflect management's current views and are based on certain assumptions. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated as a result of a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the risks and uncertainties discussed in this announcement and under ``Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations' in the Company's 1998 Annual Report to Shareholders, Item 1 of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Item 2 of the Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 1999, each of which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
SOURCE: Magainin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. |
