Analysis of:
Sanofi-Aventis and Oxford Biomedica report encouraging Trovax(R) phase II trial results in Metastatic Renal Cancer (www.pipelinereview.com)
The efficacy of the immunotherapeutic" vaccine" Trovax in 3 separate small phase II trials in combination with interferon alpha or IL-2 was modest at best. With availability of 3 targeted agents for this disease ( Nexavar, Sutent, and Torisel) , the chances of such as an agent are very limited.
Analysis of:
Sanofi-Aventis and Oxford Biomedica report encouraging Trovax(R) phase II trial results in Metastatic Renal Cancer (www.pipelinereview.com)
This immunotherapeutic agent in association with interleukin 2 or interferon may be effective in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). To be tested in a phase III trial (against what??)
Analysis of:
Positive data on Antisoma’s ASA404 presented at ASCO (www.pipelinereview.com)
That appears to be a well contructed phase III trial adds ASA404 or a placebo to Taxol/Carboplatin. Nothing exotic, endpoints are overall survival (OS) as well as OS in Squams and non Squams.
Analysis of:
Positive data on Antisoma’s ASA404 presented at ASCO (www.pipelinereview.com)
Adding novel biologic agents (such as ASA404) to traditional chemotherapy is a very hot trend in cancer research. The data from Antisoma's lung cancer study are certainly intriguing, but again, phase II, and retrospective.
Analysis of:
Initial safety report of NSABP C-08, a randomized phase III study of modified 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)/leucovorin (LCV) and oxaliplatin (OX) (mFOLFOX6) with or without bevacizumab (bev) in the adjuvant treatment of patients with stage II/III colon cancer. (www.abstract.asco.org)
While chemo plus Avastin is the standard of care for first treatment of advanced colon cancer, chemotherapy alone is used for most early colon cancer. This large study demonstrates the relative safety of adding Avastin to chemo in the early - adjuvant – setting.
Analysis of:
Continuing Herceptin treatment prevents disease progression in women with aggressive metastatic breast cancer (www.pipelinereview.com)
Many of us oncologists have been in the practice of continuing Herceptin (Trastuzumab) even when the breast cancer we were treating was growing while on the drug. Now, this randomized study gives data to back up that practice.
Analysis of:
Genetic Research May Help Pick Patients' Best Cancer Drugs (online.wsj.com)
Genetic profiling will tell us who should or should not receive particular anti neoplastic agents. This is "personalized" therapy that has been predicted x years.
Analysis of:
New data on MAGE-A3 cancer immuno therapy support novel options of treating non-small cell lung cancer and melanoma (www.pipelinereview.com)
This describes a potential two-step process using modern molecular biology to customize cancer therapy. First the Affymetrix Microarray analyzes tumor genes to try to identify which patients are at high risk to have a cancer recurrence following lung cancer surgery. Second, Glaxo's MAGE-A3 proprietary...
Analysis of:
China Muscles In On The Generics Industry (www.pharmalot.com)
China, buoyed by its recent economic boom, is invading industrilaized nation markets with many generic compounds , from pain killers to AIDS drugs. Chinese drugs are cheap, but have reputation for poor quality , especially with recent heparin fiasco. India has had a good track record with generics and...
Analysis of:
Drug Brings ImClone in From Cold (online.wsj.com)
Well we know that the lung cancer trial http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121227163771635641.html?mod=2_1566_topbox was a bust so far. What other "good news" do we await