Antisoma drug combines novel immunotherapy agent with fused targeting antibody

Implications: This drug, which has just entered Phase I testing, is very interesting because it combines IL-12, which has shown both activity and significant toxicity, with a targeting antibody. Hopefully, this targeting antibody will minimize the toxicity of IL-12 on or in normal tissues.

Analysis: Like any Phase I agent, we don't know at this time if the drug will even be tolerable in clinically or pharmacologically active doses or regimens. We also don't know if the well-conceived targeting mechanism will result in reduced toxicities from the active agent. Finally, will there be any responses in the Phase I trial? (this is how Sorafenib became interesting as a potential melanoma drug)