Insmed Announces Exclusive Option Agreement with UCSF for Series of IGF-1 Receptor Antagonists
Thursday March 17, 8:00 am ET
Agreement Expands Collaboration on IGF-1 Program in Prostate Cancer
RICHMOND, Va. & SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 17, 2005--Insmed Incorporated (NASDAQ: INSM - News) today reported that the Company has entered into an exclusive option agreement with University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine for the patented use of IGF-1 receptor antagonists to treat prostate cancer This application of IGF-1 receptor antagonists complements Insmed and UCSF's ongoing clinical studies with INSM-18, a small molecule IGF-1 tyrosine kinase inhibitor in a Phase I clinical study in patients with relapsed prostate cancer.
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Ira D. Goldfine, M.D. Professor of Medicine at UCSF will lead the investigative efforts with IGF-1 receptor antagonists to identify the compound with an ideal risk/benefit ratio to enter clinical trials. Working with Dr Goldfine at UCSF are: Drs Jack Youngren, Betty Maddux, Eric Small, and Charles Ryan, Department of Medicine; Dr John Kerner Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology; and Dr Michael Campbell, Department of Surgery.
Professor Goldfine commented, "This series of IGF-1 receptor antagonists are very interesting molecules that inhibit IGF-1 receptor activation, which can trigger tumorigenesis. These planned studies should allow us to identify another drug candidate to compliment our efforts with INSM-18 in the search for a treatment of prostate cancer."
Insmed's CEO Geoffrey Allan, Ph.D. commented, "We are very excited to expand the Company pipeline with this patented methodology. This agreement with UCSF further broadens our pipeline of promising drug candidates in the prostate cancer filed, and reinforces Insmed as a leader in IGF biology and growth factor signalling. We look forward to reporting our findings with a new series of compounds and the results of our Phase I trial in prostate cancer in the near future. "
About Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is a malignant tumor that usually begins in the outer part of the prostate. Symptoms of prostate cancer can include difficulty urinating, blood in the urine or semen, pain or burning during urination and even the inability to urinate. Prostate cancer can be detected by a digital rectal exam (DRE) or a prostate specific antigen test (PSA test). PSA is a substance produced by the prostate gland and is easily measured in the blood. Elevated PSA levels may indicate prostate cancer. Experts recommend an annual DRE exam beginning at the age of 45 and an annual PSA test beginning at the age of 50. Examinations should begin earlier depending on certain risk factors such as race and family history. In 2004, the American Cancer Society estimates that 230,000 new cases of prostate cancer will occur in the United States. An estimated 30,000 deaths in 2004 will occur as a result of prostate cancer, making it the second leading cause of cancer death in men.
About UCSF School of Medicine
University of California, San Francisco, an NCI designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, is one of the leading biomedical research and health science education facilities in the world. Ranked among the top 10 medical schools in the nation, the UCSF School of Medicine earns its greatest distinction from the outstanding faculty - including 3 Nobel laureates, 32 National Academy of Sciences members, 34 American Academy of Arts and Sciences members, 62 Institute of Medicine members, and 16 Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigators. The school is comprised of 26 academic departments, 9 organized research units, and 8 interdisciplinary centers at sites throughout San Francisco. For more information, please visit www.ucsf.edu.
About Insmed
Insmed is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of drug candidates for the treatment of metabolic diseases and endocrine disorders with unmet medical needs. For more information, please visit www.insmed.com. |
