CAMPATH Clinical Data in Multiple Sclerosis Presented at American Academy of Neurology
Wednesday April 2, 8:12 am ET
New Multi-Center Trial Underway to Evaluate Role of ILEX's CAMPATH in MS
SAN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 2, 2003--ILEX Oncology Inc.(Nasdaq:ILXO - News)
At the American Academy of Neurology meeting in Honolulu yesterday, Professor Alastair Compston, chairman of Neurology at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, England, presented clinical data from several pilot studies of the drug CAMPATH® (alemtuzumab) in multiple sclerosis (MS).
Professor Compston and his colleagues have been studying CAMPATH in MS for more than 10 years.
Professor Compston reported that results from one pilot study at Addenbrooke's Hospital showed a five-day course of CAMPATH suppressed disease activity for a prolonged period in 36 patients with secondary, progressive MS. In another CAMPATH pilot study involving 17 patients with early, active relapsing-remitting MS without progression or severe disability, the group had a near complete reduction in annualized relapse rate, and in no patient did disability increase.
"Our preliminary results in the treatment of early, active MS are very encouraging," Professor Compston told attendees. "To date, every patient has shown a predictable response to CAMPATH through suppressed disease activity. We are now participating in an important clinical trial to confirm these impressive results."
The randomized, open-label Phase II study began in December 2002. It is comparing the safety and efficacy of CAMPATH to Rebif® (interferon beta-1a) in preventing sustained accumulative disability in patients with early, active relapsing-remitting MS. The study will include 150 patients at 35 centers in the United States and Europe.
CAMPATH was granted accelerated approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in May 2001 for the treatment of patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) who have been treated with alklylating agents (anti-cancer drugs that inhibit tumor growth by interfering with the DNA of cancer cells) and have failed fludarabine (a chemotherapy agent) treatment. |
