Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Biotech / Medical : Biotech Lock-Up Expiration Hell Portfolio -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: tuck who wrote (893)	1/24/2004 10:31:42 AM
From: Extra Pale	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1005

Tuck, The gnvc results appear to be on patients with locally advanced cancer vs GEM/CIS with 73% liver metastasis. Seems like TNFerade would have small markets if useful only in non-metastic situations. From your Gemzar link: Methods: 195 pts with histologically documented pancreatic carcinoma were randomized to receive either GEM 1,000 mg/m2 plus CIS 50 mg/m2 on d1,15 of a 28-day schedule (arm A, 96 pts) or GEM 1,000 mg/m2 on d1,8,15 of a 28-day schedule (arm B, 99 pts). Results: 195 pts were enrolled. Pt characteristics were balanced between arms A and B with regard to age (59 vs. 61 yrs), Karnofsky PS (70 each), and liver metastasis (65% vs 66%). Disease: locally advanced (27.1% of pts), metastatic (72.9%). The median number of cycles administered was 4 in arm A (range 1-20) and 3 in arm B (range 1-15). WHO grade 3/4 toxicities (per patient analysis) in arms A and B included: anemia 2.2% vs 3.2%, leukopenia 8.8% vs 8.5%, thrombopenia 5.5% vs 9.5%, mucositis 3.3% vs 3.2%, nausea/vomiting 20.9% vs 6.4%, grade 3 diarrhea 3.3% vs 6.4%, respectively. After 75% of the pts died, median survival was 8.3 mos in arm A, and 6.0 mos in arm B that reached a level of significance in the Wilcoxon test (P=0.046), but not in the log-rank analysis (P=0.12). Progression-free survival was markedly superior for the GEM/CIS combination with 5.4 mos vs. 2.8 mos (P<0.01, log-rank test). The analysis of tumor response is still pending. Conclusion: The combined use of GEM/CIS prolonged progression-free and overall survival in locally advanced and metastatic pancreatic cancer when compared to single-agent gemcitabine. Apart from nausea and vomiting, toxicity between treatment arms was comparable.