Replies to post #115062 on Biotech Values

[dumaflotchie]

A very brief review of prior reports does reveal previous encouraging data on prostate cancer such as this one:

http://theoncologist.alphamedpress.org/cgi/content/full/8/2/...

In our trial using paclitaxel, estramustine, and carboplatin for the treatment of patients with castrate metastatic prostate cancer, 67% of patients achieved a PSA level decline of 50%, 45% of patients had a major regression of soft tissue disease, 52% had stabilization or improvement of bone scintigraphy, and 79% of the patients who reported significant pain at the start of therapy demonstrated relief of that pain and a reduction in opiate use while on chemotherapy [55].

These results are commensurate with those found in other nonrandomized studies that examine combination antimicrotubule therapy [55–59].

So perhaps there are previous trials that sugggested more promise than eventually proved not to be the case.......is EXEL just another flash in the pan??

The game changer would still be survival benefit......not sure when they may have data to report on that as wll as the remaining 68 patients entered in the trial.

But they also make the case that perhaps this drug along with others might be used together rather than as standalones.....each working by different mechanisms. There may be some logic to that.

[iwfal]

So the question is still open, "so what?" but the lack of peer review data on the subject is not so concerning to me given the unprecedented data that has been shown on the bone scans. There simply was never anything similar to produce a historical analog.

I don't believe this is true - there is certainly anecdotal information about 'regression' (small 'r' since there is no standard and regression just means smaller) as measured in bone scans.