Advertise With UsAdvertise on our extensive network of industry websites and newsletters.
Get the PBR newsletterSign up to our free email to get all the latest PBR
news.The shareholders of privately-held US drug developer Aptamera have approved the company's acquisition by UK cancer drug developer Antisoma. All pre-closing conditions have now been met.
Subscribe to our email newsletter
Antisoma is evaluating options for the further development of Aptamera’s lead product, AGRO100, which is now redesignated AS1411. The next step will be either a phase II study in a specific cancer or the re-opening of Aptamera’s phase I trial to seek further data on the drug’s effects.
Antisoma has highlighted renal cancer, pancreatic cancer and acute myeloid leukemia as the indications where the case for developing AS1411 is strongest. Taking these indications together, Antisoma estimates that there could be 170,000 eligible patients per year in North America, Europe and Japan.
Following the acquisition of Aptamera, Antisoma will have around 30% of its shares held by US investors.
Glyn Edwards, CEO of Antisoma, said, “We intend to identify the best and fastest way to test the anticancer efficacy of AS1411, building on the very promising data from Aptamera’s first clinical trial. The acquisition of Aptamera leaves us with four drugs in clinical trials, all of which we expect to report important data during 2005.”