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Biotech / Medical : Biotech Valuation -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Icebrg who wrote (9494)	11/20/2003 10:54:14 AM
From: Biomaven	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 52153

Erik, Looks like SPPI has more than a single string to its bow. Have you followed Eoquin at all? Press Release Source: Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Inc. Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Announces Presentation of Clinical Data on EOquin(TM) at the American Association of Cancer Research-National Cancer Institute-European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer (AACR-NCI-EORTC) Meeting in Boston Thursday November 20, 9:30 am ET Complete Disappearance of Tumors Reported by Investigators in Five of Seven Patients Treated With EOquin(TM) Patients Have Remained Disease-Free for Over 1 Year IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: SPPI - News) announced today that data from a phase 1 study of EOquin in patients with recurrent superficial bladder cancer is being presented today in Boston at the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference On Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics Discovery, Biology and Clinical Applications --the worldwide meeting featuring novel cancer therapeutics. The data is being presented by investigators from the Cancer Research Unit, Tom Connors Cancer Research Center, University of Bradford, Bradford UK and affiliated institutions. Among the data points reported was that complete responses were seen in five of the seven patients treated with EOquin. The responses in the five patients were confirmed by pathologic examination, and patients were followed to determine the duration of remission. So far, all five responders remain in remission, with two patients having remained disease free for over 12 months. All patients in the study had been previously treated with at least one prior regimen. The key conclusions presented were: * The results of this preliminary study suggest that EOquin has marked activity against superficial bladder cancer. * 5 out of 7 patients showed a complete response, defined as compete eradication of tumor at the macroscopic and microscopic level. * Complete responses were confirmed by pathologic examination. * Two patients remain disease free more than 12 months after treatment. * All patients tolerated a dose escalation up to 4 mg/40 ml. * Two patients experienced local toxicity at 8 mg/40 ml, which was reversible. * A dose of 4 mg/40 ml administered weekly for 6 weeks was tolerated well. * No systemic toxicity observed. * No systemic absorption of the drug was observed. "In a study that was primarily designed to measure safety and identify the maximum tolerated dose, we are very excited that what we believe to be positive signs of clinical activity were also observed." stated Luigi Lenaz, M.D., President of the oncology division of Spectrum Pharmaceuticals. "We are particularly encouraged by the durability of the responses induced by EOquin in a patient population that had failed prior chemotherapy." The phase 1 study of EOquin was initiated based on peer-reviewed findings by researchers at the University of Bradford. These findings were reported in the British Journal of Cancer in November 2000. The first phase of this study was designed to test the drug's safety and tolerability, and to determine the appropriate dose for subsequent studies. Patients were given six doses of EOquin over a six-week period, at increasingly higher dose levels each week. Based on the results of the phase 1 study, Spectrum announced the launch of a phase 2 study of EOquin in bladder cancer on November 17, 2003. Spectrum Pharmaceuticals' primary focus is to develop in-licensed drugs for the treatment and supportive care of cancer patients. The Company's lead drug, satraplatin, is a phase 3 oral, anti-cancer drug being co-developed with GPC Biotech AG, which has been granted fast-track status by the United States Food and Drug Administration. Elsamitrucin, a phase 2 drug, will initially target non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. EOquin(TM) is being studied in the treatment of superficial bladder cancer, and may have applications as a radiation sensitizer. The Company is actively working to develop, seek approval for and oversee the marketing of generic drugs in the U.S. Spectrum also has a pipeline of pre-clinical neurological drug candidates for disorders such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, schizophrenia, mild cognitive impairment and pain, which it is actively seeking to out-license or co- develop. For additional information about the Company, visit the Company's web site at www.spectrumpharm.com .