Canadian News
AEterna Zentaris Reports Positive Results For Phase 2 Prelim. Study Of Ovarian Cancer Drug AEZS - 108 - Update
11/2/2009 1:01 PM ET
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(RTTNews) -
Monday, bio-pharmaceutical AEterna Zentaris Inc. (AEZS: News ,AEZ.TO: News ) said that its Phase-2 preliminary tests for detecting the efficacy of cytotoxic peptide conjugate or AEZS-108 drug were positive in patients with platinum-resistant and taxane-pretreated ovarian cancer.
AEterna said that in its open-label, multi-center, multi-national, Phase-2 study AGO-GYN-5, the drug AEZS-108 had met its primary efficacy endpoint. Phase-2 study AGO-GYN-5 is being conducted by the German AGO Study Group in cooperation with clinical sites in Europe.
In the study, 43 patients with tumors expressing luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone or LHRH receptors were selected. A preliminary evaluation showed that the study met its primary efficacy endpoint of 5 or more responders in 41 evaluable patients. Responders and patients with stable disease after completion of treatment with AEZS-108 will now be observed to assess duration of progression-free survival and, ultimately overall survival.
AEterna said, "AEZS-108 represents a new targeting concept in oncology using a cytotoxic peptide conjugate which is a hybrid molecule composed of a synthetic peptide carrier and a well-known cytotoxic agent, doxorubicin."
The design allows the specific binding and selective uptake of the cytotoxic conjugate by LHRH-receptor-positive tumors. The binding of AEZS-108 to cancerous cells that express these receptors results in its accumulation and preferential uptake in the malignant tissue, the company noted.
On market potential, the company said that ovarian cancer is one of the most common gynecologic malignancies and the fifth most frequent cause of cancer death in women with approximately 26,000 new cases and 17,000 deaths from this disease in Europe every year. Cancer of the endometrium accounts for 6% of all cancers in women with approximately 38,000 new cases and 9,000 deaths from this disease annually in Europe.
AEZS is currently trading at $1.08, up $0.06, on the Nasdaq and AEZ.TO is currently trading at C$1.15, up C$0.03, on the Toronto Stock Exchange or TSX.
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by RTT Staff Writer
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