A little extra color from INGN today, not helping its stock much:
>>Novel Lung Cancer Study Chosen for Journal of Clinical Oncology Classic Papers And Current Comments: Lung Cancer
AUSTIN, Texas, May 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Introgen Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: INGN - news) today reported it received notification that its previously published Phase I lung cancer study of INGN 201 has been chosen to appear in a ``best of the Journal of Clinical Oncology'' issue. The selected paper is entitled ``Adenovirus-Mediated p53 Gene Transfer in Sequence with Cisplatin to Tumors of Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer'' and was initially published in March 2000. The Journal of Clinical Oncology is the official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, which recently concluded its 37th Annual Meeting in San Francisco, California. A ``best of the Journal of Clinical Oncology'' volume appears four times a year in specific areas of cancer research and articles are selected by the journal editorial staff for the particular insight they provide to the scientific community.
The scientific article described data from a Phase I trial of patients with end stage non-small lung cancer. The article was the first publication to describe the use of adenovirus-mediated p53 gene transfer in combination with chemotherapy. The novel therapy combined Introgen's lead product candidate, INGN 201, or adenoviral-p53, administered intratumorally, with cisplatin, a standard chemotherapeutic agent, administered intravenously. Introgen built on this experience by conducting a Phase II study incorporating radiotherapy for localized lung cancer, which was reported at this year's ASCO meeting.
``We are pleased to see our research singled out by this prestigious journal,'' said James A. Merritt, M.D., vice president of clinical affairs for Introgen. ``We showed that Introgen's p53 gene drug could be combined with standard treatment modalities, demonstrated safety and clinical activity, and provided the basis for the continuation of our clinical development program with INGN 201 in lung cancer, and expansion into other indications.''
``This study was compelling in that it was the first published study on combination gene therapy and I believe has been appropriately recognized for its important scientific advances in the gene therapy field,'' said John Nemunaitis, M.D., first author of the paper, director of clinical research at US Oncology, Inc., and a key investigator for the ongoing Phase III clinical trials with INGN 201.
Introgen controls a number of patents that relate to p53 combination therapy. Three patents cover gene therapy of cancer using a p53 tumor suppressor gene in combination with one or more chemotherapeutic drugs, radiation therapies, or other agents that have a damaging effect on the DNA of cancer cells. Two patents cover the clinical use of p53 before, during or after treatment with chemotherapy or radiotherapy, and the third covers therapy using the p53 gene in combination with a class of chemotherapy agents called DNA repair inhibitors.
Introgen is a leader in the development and production of gene-based drugs for the treatment of cancer and other diseases. Introgen's product candidates engage precise molecular targets to produce a highly specific therapeutic effect. Introgen specializes in combining appropriate gene delivery systems and therapeutic genes to make its gene-based drugs. Introgen's lead product candidate, INGN 201, is currently in Phase III clinical trials for the treatment of head and neck cancer. INGN 201 has been used in numerous clinical trials worldwide either alone or in combination with conventional treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Introgen is also conducting a Phase II clinical trial for INGN 201 in lung cancer and Phase I trials for INGN 201 in additional cancer indications including prostate, ovarian, bladder, brain, and breast cancer. In an announcement earlier this year, Introgen published results of preclinical studies which indicate a possible application of INGN 201 whereby the human immune system may be directed to attack tumor cells. Introgen's second product candidate, INGN 241 (Adenoviral-mda7), for the treatment of solid tumors, is in Phase I clinical development. Introgen controls a broad intellectual property portfolio that includes more than 200 pending and issued patents for a variety of gene therapy technologies. Introgen owns a fully staffed and validated Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) production facility that is producing Phase III and commercial inventory of INGN 201.<<
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Ownership update: Manager (or relatives) own AGNT, KOSN, LEXG, PBSC, & TELK at the moment.
Cheers, Tuck |
