(RTTNews) -  Biotechnology firm Abraxis BioScience Inc. (ABII: News ), reported Monday that the data from a mid-stage trial has provided evidence of anti-tumor activity in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer receiving first-line treatment regimens of albumin-bound nab-paclitaxel in combination with carboplatin.

Clinical activity and safety indicators from the phase 2 study led to the selection of weekly 100 mg/m2 Abraxane as an optimal dose.

José Iglesias, Chief Medical Officer and VP, Global Clinical Development of Abraxis Bioscience said, "The results from this phase 2 study show clinical activity that could offer promise in the treatment of this hard-to-treat cancer. Data from this phase 2 investigation across multiple dose and administration schedules of ABRAXANE led to the decision to initiate a phase 3 trial to further study ABRAXANE for the treatment of NSCLC."

Further, the company said it is conducting a late-stage trial comparing carboplatin in combination with weekly 100 mg/m2 Abraxane or Taxol injection. The phase 3 trial includes 1,050 patients from 111 sites globally.

Abraxane was administered in escalating doses in combination with the standard chemotherapy agent carboplatin. Patients who received 100 mg/m2 Abraxane weekly had higher overall response rates and progression-free survival times compared with patients who received every three week and other weekly dosing regimens, the company noted.
Abraxane is a solvent-free chemotherapy treatment option for metastatic breast cancer which was developed using Abraxis BioScience's proprietary nab technology platform.

The FDA approved Abraxane for Injectable Suspension in January 2005 for the treatment of breast cancer after failure of combination chemotherapy for metastatic disease or relapse within six months of adjuvant chemotherapy.

The company noted that Abraxane is currently in various stages of investigation for the treatment of the following cancers: expanded applications for metastatic breast, non-small cell lung, malignant melanoma, pancreatic and gastric.

ABII is currently trading at $30.53, down 22 cents.

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by RTT Staff Writer

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