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 : Introgen Therapeutics -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Jibacoa who wrote (242)	3/17/2005 3:14:11 PM
From: Jibacoa	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 802

Well, I thought I will mention this before Zeta beats me to it. (She has been quite bussy lately.<g) Press Release Source: Introgen Therapeutics, Inc. Introgen's INGN 241 Demonstrates Clinically Significant Activity in Patients With Advanced Cancer Thursday March 17, 3:00 pm ET AUSTIN, TX--(MARKET WIRE)--Mar 17, 2005 -- Introgen Therapeutics, Inc. (NasdaqNM:INGN - News) today reported the publication of data from a Phase 1 trial of INGN 241 in patients with solid tumors. These data demonstrate that direct injection of INGN 241 induced programmed cell death in 100 percent of the tumors treated, even in patients who had failed prior therapy with other anti-cancer drugs. Clinical responses were observed in 44 percent of the treated lesions, including complete and partial responses in two patients with melanoma. Patients treated with INGN 241 had increases in a subset of T-cells that help to destroy cancer cells, which is consistent with the role of MDA-7 protein as a member of the interleukin family of immune stimulating proteins. mda-7 is the active component of INGN 241. The results appear in two papers in an issue of Molecular Therapy. "These data are very encouraging and provided the rationale for advancing INGN 241 to Phase 2 clinical development," said Robert E. Sobol, M.D., senior vice president, Medical and Scientific Affairs at Introgen. "The ability of INGN 241 to induce clinically relevant responses in patients with advanced cancer, while demonstrating a favorable safety profile, is very encouraging. One patient with advanced melanoma had a complete response in a treated tumor, and also demonstrated activity in untreated tumors. These data suggest that INGN 241 may have potential to treat primary tumors as well as cancer that has spread throughout the body." The Phase 1 dose escalation study treated 22 patients with advanced solid tumors. All patients had previously been treated for cancer, and the majority had received surgery in addition to chemotherapy or radiation therapy. A total of 15 different tumor types were treated, including melanoma, breast, colorectal, non-small cell lung cancer and lymphoma. The data from these patients indicate that INGN 241 is well tolerated, and a maximum tolerated dose was not reached. Two of five patients treated at the highest dose showed objective clinical responses, including complete regression of one treated lesion in a patient with melanoma. Immune activation was noted in these patients along with molecular changes that mirrored preclinical studies. "The clinical and molecular responses observed following treatment with INGN 241 are exciting and warrant additional evaluation," said Dr. Sobol. "MDA-7 protein has multiple anti-cancer effects, including inducing programmed cell death, stimulating an immune response to tumor cells and inhibiting the formation of new blood vessels needed to support tumor growth. These multiple activities may enable INGN 241 to provide clinical benefit to patients with a variety of tumor types and we continue to be excited about the potential of INGN 241 as a new approach to treating cancer." biz.yahoo.com