More on IL-21;
Final Phase 2 Results for IL-21 in Renal Cell Cancer Show Tolerability and Enhanced Efficacy of Nexavar Combination
Favorable Response Rate in Patients Who Have Failed Prior Therapy
Progression-Free Survival Results to Be Presented at ASCO Meeting
On Thursday May 14, 2009, 6:01 pm EDT
Buzz up! Print Related:ZymoGenetics, Inc.
SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ZymoGenetics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ZGEN - News), will present final results from a Phase 2 clinical trial in patients with renal cell cancer at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting on May 31, 2009, in a poster presentation. The clinical trial evaluated Interleukin 21 (IL-21) in combination with Nexavar® (sorafenib) tablets. Abstracts are available on the ASCO website www.asco.org.
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“We see encouraging anti-tumor activity with IL-21 combined with Nexavar. The ASCO abstract, available today, reports a 26 percent response rate in 2nd- or 3rd-line renal cell carcinoma patients,” said Nicole Onetto, M.D., Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of ZymoGenetics. “The final poster presentation will also include progression-free survival results. We believe the combination of IL-21 and Nexavar could be more effective than Nexavar alone.”
The multi-center Phase 2 clinical trial was conducted at 14 sites in the U.S. and Canada and enrolled 33 patients. Efficacy endpoints included overall response rate and progression-free survival per RECIST (Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors). Response was assessed by the investigator and by independent radiologic review.
ASCO Poster
Title: Phase II study of recombinant IL-21 (rIL-21) plus sorafenib as second- or third-line therapy for metastatic renal cell cancer (mRCC): Final results.
Abstract: 3023
Presenter: Shailender Bhatia, MD, Medical Oncology, UWMC/FHCRC/SCCA
Date: Sunday, May 31, 2009
Time: 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Presentation Order: 18
Poster Board: 15
Location: Level 3, W315A
About Interleukin 21 (IL-21)
Despite the positive impact of targeted therapies on treatment for renal cell cancer, the efficacy of these agents appears to decrease beyond the first-line setting. There is an unmet need for novel therapies after failure of the targeted agents. IL-21, a cytokine that enhances CD8+ T cell and NK cell activity, has single-agent anti-tumor activity (J Clin Oncol 26:2034, 2008). ZymoGenetics has worldwide rights to IL-21 and is developing IL-21 for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma and metastatic melanoma.
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