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 : Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (MLNM) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: tom pope who wrote (2725)	10/6/2006 12:01:11 PM
From: Ian@SI	Respond to of 3044

Journal of Clinical Oncology Publishes Final Study Results of VELCADE(R) (Bortezomib) for Injection in Relapsed Mantle Cell Lymphoma prnews -- Study results formed basis of supplemental new drug application (sNDA) filing for relapsed mantle cell lymphoma -- CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Oct. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: MLNM) today announced that the Journal of Clinical Oncology has published the final results of the PINNACLE trial, one of the largest multi-center studies ever done in the setting of relapsed mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). The results demonstrate the potential of VELCADE as treatment for relapsed MCL, an aggressive form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). The study, which provided the major source of data for the sNDA filing for VELCADE in relapsed MCL, was prepublished online in the September 25, 2006 Journal of Clinical Oncology and will run in the October 20, 2006 print issue. VELCADE for relapsed MCL is under Priority Review with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and a decision is expected by December 9, 2006. (Logo: newscom.com ) "The publication in Journal of Clinical Oncology highlights the potential of VELCADE in the treatment of mantle cell lymphoma," said Deborah Dunsire, M.D., President and CEO, Millennium. "The study, one of several Phase II trials which consistently showed impressive response rates and duration of response, suggests that VELCADE may become a standard component of therapy in this disease." Results of the study, which was undertaken with Millennium's co-development partner, Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, L.L.C. (J&JPRD), showed a 33 percent overall response rate and an 8 percent complete response rate. Importantly, the median overall duration of response was 9.2 months, and 13.5 months in patients who achieved a complete response. These results are consistent with those of four investigator-initiated Phase II clinical trials where overall response rates of 30 to 40 percent with single-agent VELCADE were observed. PINNACLE Study In this prospective, single-arm study, 155 patients with relapsed or refractory MCL who had received a maximum of two prior therapies, received single-agent VELCADE 1.3mg/m2 twice weekly for two weeks every 21 days for up to one year. Patients achieving complete response, unconfirmed complete response or partial response received a median of 8 treatment cycles, and all patients in the study received a median of 4 cycles. Study results included: * Overall response rate of 33 percent * Complete response rate of 8 percent * Median duration of response of 9.2 months; 13.5 months in patients achieving a complete response * Median time to progression of 6.2 months * Median treatment-free interval of 13.8 months in patients achieving a complete response * Treatment was well tolerated. The most common non-hematologic adverse events were fatigue, gastrointestinal events and peripheral neuropathy. Hematologic toxicities were consistent with those previously seen with VELCADE. VELCADE currently is approved in the United States for the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM) patients who have received at least one prior therapy. To date, over 44,000 MM patients have been treated with VELCADE for MM worldwide, including clinical trials. Earlier this year, Millennium and co-development partner, J&JPRD, initiated a Phase III clinical trial with VELCADE in combination with rituximab in patients with relapsed or refractory follicular and marginal zone lymphoma. About Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and Mantle Cell Lymphoma NHL is the most common hematological cancer, the fifth leading cause of cancer death and the second fastest growing form of cancer in the U.S.(1) The prevalence of NHL is approximately 400,000 patients, 77,000 patients with follicular lymphoma and 10,000 with mantle cell lymphoma. There are approximately 54,000 new cases of NHL diagnosed per year, and 19,000 deaths are attributed to the disease annually(2,3). MCL is an aggressive, rapidly progressive subtype of NHL, and is not curable with standard treatment. Because there is no generally accepted treatment approach and options are often limited, there is a growing need for new therapies. The average life expectancy for a patient with relapsed MCL is one to two years. About VELCADE [snip]

To: tom pope who wrote (2725)	10/10/2006 10:13:40 AM
From: tuck	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 3044

>>9:50AM Anormed: Genzyme announces proposal to increase its offer to acquire AnorMED to $13.50 per share in cash (ANOR) 13.35 : Genzyme (GENZ) announces that it has informed the Board of Directors of ANOR that it is prepared to increase its offer to acquire all outstanding shares of ANOR to US $13.50 per share, or approximately $580 mln, contingent upon ANOR executing a support agreement with GENZ. GENZ says this proposal represents a premium of 12.5% over the purchase price proposed by Millennium Pharmaceuticals (MLNM) on September 26, 2006. (ANOR IS halted)<< From Briefing.com It appears MLNM is halted, too. Edit: Found the right 14-D9 or sumthin at EDGAR, from which this is excerpted: "The Support Agreement provides for the payment to Millennium by AnorMED, upon the occurrence of certain events, including the acceptance by the Board of Directors of a superior proposal that Millennium has not matched, of a fee of U.S.$19.5 million." Hey, we'll take a quick $20 million, sure. MLNM appears to be trading again, and oddly, isn't moving much. Cheers, Tuck