Questions to Alfacell
1 Did you present at ASCO
2 If not, Why
3 If yes, why no big noise about Onconase.
Why do I ask these questions.
Email FJ Abella
Westergaard Online
Westergaard
Broadcasting Network
Westergaard Year 2000
Tuesday May 19, 1998
We have seen the mainstream press go wild over
cancer in the past several weeks. Two examples - the
New York Times reported one month after the news
elease that Entremed (Nsdq:ENMD) had cured
cancer in mice. Last night we were treated by CNN
talking about the slightest increases (undetectable ) in
the effectiveness of taxol for early stage breast cancer
over conventional chemotherapy. These are what the
press consider to be breakthroughs in cancer
research?
I consider the news SuperGen released from ASCO to
be among the most significant to be forthcoming from
the meeting (right up there with Genentech's Phase II
B-cell Non Hodgkin's lymphoma data).
Consider RFS2000, SuperGen's drug for pancreatic
cancer. Data showed that among 53 patients, 32%
were responders, 32% were stable and 26% were
non- responders following treatment with RFS 2000.
Responses were evaluated by improvement in CT
scan, tumor markers and clinical symptomatology.
Median survival to date is 9.1 months among
responders, and 8.8 months among stable patients.
Standard treatment for this condition includes Eli Lilly's
(NYSE:LLY) Gemzar. The prognosis of a patient with
locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer is 3-4
months, even with treatment with Gemzar. That SUPG
is finding that 64% of the patients are surviving out to
nine months IS ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT
ANNOUNCEMENTS TO BE MADE AT ASCO.
By the way, sales of Gemzar in 1996 and 1997 were
$62mm and $175mm respectively. If FDA is as
compelled by the data as we are, SUPG may be
marketing RFS2000 for pancreatic cancer within
12-18 months.
I would really like some answers to these question and a response to this latest announcement. |
