Protherics PLC Announces Research Update
Wednesday August 27, 2:01 am ET
Cheshire, UK--(MARKET WIRE)--Aug 27, 2008 --
Protherics PLC
Start of ProlarixTM phase 2 study in liver cancer
London, UK; Brentwood, TN, US; 27 August 2008 - Protherics PLC
("Protherics" or the "Company"), the international biopharmaceutical
company focused on critical care and cancer, today
announces the initiation of a phase 2a proof-of-concept study of
ProlarixTM, a targeted prodrug chemotherapy being developed for the
treatment of primary liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma or "HCC").
This follows promising data from a phase 1 study of Prolarix, presented
at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting
in Chicago, USA on 2 June 2008.
HCC is the sixth most common cause of cancer in the world1 and despite
the recent approval of sorafenib (Nexavar®, Onyx/Bayer), a new
chemotherapy which is being adopted as the standard of care for
HCC, life expectancy remains less than 12 months from diagnosis.
Moreover, less than 20% of patients survive beyond one year, and less
than 5% survive beyond five years.
The phase 2a proof-of-concept study is designed to evaluate tumour
response in addition to safety and tolerability of Prolarix in 14
patients with non-resectable HCC who have not been treated
with sorafenib. The study has been initiated at a site in Belgium and
additional study sites in East Asia have been identified for inclusion
in the study. The results of the study are expected in the second half
of 2009.
Andrew Heath, Chief Executive of Protherics commented:"Scientifically
acclaimed, Prolarix offers renewed hope for the many
patients with primary liver cancer for whom there are very few
treatment options. If the results from this study are positive, a
licensing partner will be sought for Asia where the incidence of this
type of cancer is highest."
surf's up......crikey
