Updates on the MMPI (3340) and Thymitaq. Patient accrual has moved slowly for Thymitaq, but I've been interested in the radiation sensitization properties since Peter Johnson described it at the '95 annual meeting. It sounds like the first 3340 phase I went great, but prolonged administration in patients will give us a better view.....
Agouron Reports Recent Results From Testing of Two Anticancer Drugs
LA JOLLA, Calif., April 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Agouron Pharmaceuticals,
Inc. (Nasdaq-NNM: AGPH) today summarized recent results from the
evaluation of two anticancer drugs being developed by the company.
Scientists will report these findings at this week's annual meeting of
the American Association for Cancer Research being held in San Diego.
MMP Inhibitor AG3340
Agouron Senior Research Scientist, Mary A. Collier, will report
encouraging results achieved in a recently completed phase I study of the
compound designated AG3340. AG3340 was designed as a highly selective,
nonpeptidic inhibitor of certain matrix metalloproteinases (MMP's) --
a family of enzymes known to be involved in processes through which tumors
invade tissues, metastasize, and grow. In this study, healthy male
volunteers received doses between 10 mg and 200 mg of AG3340 in tablet
form. The purpose was to evaluate the tolerability of the drug and to
determine whether adequate blood levels of AG3340 could be achieved by
oral administration. AG3340 was well tolerated at all dose levels
studied. Ms. Collier reported that the drug was rapidly absorbed
following oral administration, resulting in blood levels of the drug
that were substantially greater than those showing efficacy in animal
cancer models. Agouron will next conduct a phase I study in which cancer
patients will receive AG3340 for extended periods.
THYMITAQ(TM) (AG337)
Results from a preclinical study conducted by the Department of
Radiation Oncology, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, and Agouron yielded
encouraging data concerning Agouron's antitumor agent THYMITAQ.
Administered at a subtoxic dose, THYMITAQ enhanced the effectiveness of
radiotherapy 260% in animals, and increased the tumor control rate
(TCD50) from 10% (with radiation alone) to 90%. The study suggests that
THYMITAQ, a potent inhibitor of the enzyme thymidylate synthase (TS) may
have utility as an enhancer of radiation therapy of human tumors.
Phase I interim data in England evaluating THYMITAQ in children with
advanced malignancies is continuing. To date, 13 children have been
treated. Plasma pharmacokinetics were comparable to those at similar
dose levels in the adult phase I study of THYMITAQ administered as a
continuous five-day intravenous infusion. A 50% reduction of
peripheral blast cell count was achieved in two patients with acute
lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
THYMITAQ is currently being evaluated for safety and efficacy in the
treatment of head and neck cancer and of hepatocellular (liver) cancer in
phase II/III clinical trials being carried out in the United States,
Europe and Asia. AG3340 and THYMITAQ are being developed by Agouron in
collaboration with Hoffmann-La Roche Inc.
Agouron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is an integrated pharmaceutical firm
committed to the discovery, development, manufacturing, and marketing
of small-molecule drugs engineered to inactivate proteins which play
key roles in cancer, AIDS, and other serious diseases.
THYMITAQ(TM) is a trademark of Agouron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
/CONTACT: Investors: Donna Nichols, Senior Director, Corporate
Communications, 619-622-3009, www.agouron.com; or Media: Joy
Schmitt, Manager, Product Public Relations, 619-622-3220, both of
Agouron Pharmaceuticals, Inc./ |
