Replies to post #141997 on Biotech Values

[jq1234]

cabozantinib: It has definitely grown on me. I was cautious when initial RDT data on bone scan in CRPC came out - not sure how to interpret the data. With more data in various tumor types came out since, I think it still is one of the most interesting candidates out there even though oddly general interest has waned.

Early this year, they released data from cabo in RCC. To me, it showed the strongest evidence of the drug's activity in traditional sense:

As of the January 18, 2012 data cut-off, 25 RCC patients were enrolled with 88% having received prior anti-VEGF therapy, 60% having received prior mTOR inhibitor therapy, and 52% having received =1 anti-VEGF and 1 mTOR therapy. Sixty-four percent of patients received = 2 prior anti-cancer agents. Tumor regression was observed in 19 of 21 patients (90%) with =1 post-baseline assessment. Best overall response was determined per RECIST criteria with 7 of 25 patients (28%) showing a confirmed partial response (PR). Importantly, PRs were observed in heavily pretreated patients, including 3 patients with 2-4 prior systemic therapies, and 2 patients with >4 prior systemic therapies. Thirteen additional patients (52%) had stable disease (SD) as their best response, and only a single patient (4%) demonstrated evidence of primary refractoriness to cabozantinib with a best overall response of progressive disease. The rate of disease control (PR + SD) at week 16 for all 25 patients is 72%. Kaplan Meier estimate of median progression-free survival is 14.7 months (95% CI, lower limit 7.3 months – upper limit not reached). Ten patients remain on study and progression free with treatment durations ranging up to 16.4 months.

ErbB3 as a target: It is more wait and see to me. SNY/MACK are doing a lot of trials on their ErbB3 antibody candidate MM121/SAR256212:

http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=mm121