MedImmune Identifies Novel Protein Target for Cancer Therapy
GAITHERSBURG, Md., Feb. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MedImmune, Inc. (Nasdaq: MEDI - News) announced today that elevated levels of PC cell-derived growth factor (PCDGF) may be an early signal of prostate cancer progression. In a preclinical study published in the February 15 issue of Clinical Cancer Research, MedImmune scientists together with their collaborators at A&G Pharmaceutical, Inc. and Indiana University documented significantly higher levels of PCDGF expression in clinical samples of invasive prostate cancer tissue than in adjacent benign or normal tissue.
"We have added notably to the body of research about PCDGF by linking the protein's expression to cancerous cells in the prostate," said Peter Kiener, D.Phil., vice president, research at MedImmune. "Previously, researchers had demonstrated that breast and ovarian cancer cell growth may be reduced by inhibiting PCDGF expression. Based upon data accumulated from early-stage studies of both breast and prostate cancer, anti-PCDGF antibodies may provide important medical options for patients with difficult-to-treat forms of the disease."
In the published article, entitled "PC Cell-Derived Growth Factor Expression in Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia and Prostatic Adenocarcinoma," PCDGF is described as a novel growth factor that stimulates cell proliferation as well as tumor growth and invasiveness in tissue samples and in animal models. In 2002, MedImmune in-licensed exclusive worldwide therapeutic rights to technology targeting PCDGF from A&G Pharmaceutical, Inc., a private biotechnology company located in Columbia, Maryland. Since then, MedImmune and A&G scientists have begun to build a body of scientific evidence demonstrating the role of the glycoprotein in prostate cancer. Should additional preclinical studies continue to exhibit comparable results, MedImmune anticipates filing an Investigational New Drug application (IND) with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in 2005 to begin testing a drug targeting this molecule in humans.
According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), prostate cancer is the second most common type of cancer found in American men, trailing only skin cancer incidence. In 2004, ACS estimates that there will be more than 230,000 new cases of prostate cancer in the U.S. and approximately 29,900 deaths due to the disease. It is believed that one out of every six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime. Although most prostate cancers grow very slowly, the prognosis is very poor in cases where the disease has spread to bone or other organs.
"We, at A&G Pharmaceutical, are very excited that PCDGF's potential involvement in prostate cancer has been documented," said Dr. Ginette Serrero, vice president of A&G Pharmaceutical, Inc. and inventor of the PCDGF technology. "As the developers of a next-generation diagnostic test for prostate cancer, we believe diagnostic kits and therapeutics based on the same molecular target are the future for cancer detection, monitoring and treatment."
Expanding the MedImmune Oncology Pipeline
Since February 1999, when MedImmune acquired Vitaxin®, its first cancer- related product candidate, MedImmune has been selectively building its oncology organization and pipeline. The company's goal is to become a world leader in the development and marketing of cancer-related therapies. Currently, MedImmune has an 80-person oncology sales and marketing organization detailing Ethyol® (amifostine) to oncologists throughout the United States.
MedImmune's research and development organization is advancing and expanding the focus of a number of internal product candidates through melanoma and prostate cancer studies with Vitaxin, non-small cell lung cancer and acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) studies with Ethyol, and T cell lymphoma studies with siplizumab. In addition, since October 2001, MedImmune's internal discovery and in-licensing activities have successfully expanded the company's preclinical pipeline with several new oncology-related technologies or targets... |
