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DewDiligence

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Tuesday, 11/20/2007 7:29:55 AM

Tuesday, November 20, 2007 7:29:55 AM

Post# of 257403
Novartis, Antisoma Take On Avastin in NSCLC

[The program has been broadened from squamous NSCLC, where Avastin doesn’t compete, to both squamous and non-squamous NSCLC.]

http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUKL2047479220071120

>>
Tue Nov 20, 2007 6:39am EST

LONDON (Reuters) - Novartis AG and its partner Antisoma (ASM.L) plan to take on established blockbuster Avastin in the lung cancer market, according to revised clinical trial plans unveiled on Tuesday.

An enlarged study programme for their experimental drug ASA404 expands the market potential of the product but may be risky, according to industry analysts.

"The trial design essentially positions the product as a direct competitor to Avastin," Nomura Code Securities analyst Samir Devani said in a note.

"While this is a courageous effort, and significantly expands the potential peak sales of the product, we believe patient recruitment may be challenging as Avastin's use becomes standard of care."

Novartis, which licensed rights to ASA404 from Antisoma in April, had originally planned to test the drug only in patients with squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), who cannot use Roche Holding AG and Genentech Inc's Avastin.

The new Phase III programme, due to start in early 2008, will now include non-squamous patients as well.

ASA404, if successful, would be the first in a new type of anti-cancer treatment designed to disrupt the flow of blood to tumours. It works in a different way to Avastin, which also starves tumour cells of blood.

Antisoma, which gave a pipeline update at its annual meeting, also announced a delay to a mid-stage Phase II study of its AS1411 drug in kidney cancer.

Analysts had been expecting this trial to commence in the first half of 2008 but the company now plans more preclinical and toxicology work on repeat dosing before starting.
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