GLG News by Multiple Myeloma Physicians

Drug (monoclonal ab?) failed in a phase III trial vs chemotherapy (not particularly effective.)

Biological efficacy has been shown for a number of cancer vaccines. Clinical efficacy has been shown in few of them. Clinical benefit just in one: idiotype vaccine for B-cell lymphoma. TroVax still has to clear the last hurdle, and likely also the second one.

Vectibix's undue toxicity without obvious benefits punctures Amgen's hope of finding a first or even second line use for this EGFR directed monoclonal antibody.

RSV infection is very difficult to confirm. In my hospital we use molecular determination of RSV genome from nasal secretions. This approach is expensive, time consuming and it does not offer a quick diagnosis. We treat mainly onco-hematological patients, who are at high risk of RSV infection. In the...

OXiGENE, Inc's., ZYBRESTAT(TM) (fosbretabulin), a vascular disrupting agent (?) is being given with Taxol/Carboplatin (T/C) in a randomized Phase II study. Soooo T/C with or without ZYBRESTAT.

 "A Johnson & Johnson foot gel used by diabetics may increase the risk of cancer and death, U.S. health officials said on Thursday in announcing an investigation into the issue."

Phase II results ++

Immunomedics has developed three new immunoconjugates between monoclonal antibodies and SN-38 i an effort to target colon, pancreas and lung cancer.  Preclinical data are effective in a metastatic colon cancer model but there are no clinical data.

"Belly Fat" in middle age can be associated with the development of dementia as one ages.

The use of immunoconjugates in the development of monoclonal antibodies has been long tested with toxins but not with pro-drugs