Oxigene cancer drug shows promise

Zybrestat, delivered in combination with Avastin, appeared safe and well-tolerated and resulted in significantly enhanced tumor blood-flow reductions as measured by DCE-MRI imaging, and demonstrated early evidence of clinical activity in the absence of concurrent cytotoxic chemotherapy.

The ongoing phase Ib study is an open-label, dose-escalation study designed to evaluate safety and tolerability, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and biomarkers associated with three dosages of Zybrestat (45 mg/m2, 54 mg/m2 and 63 mg/m2) in combination with bevacizumab (10mg/kg administered every 14 days). OXiGENE anticipates completing enrollment in the study in the current quarter and reporting further data from all dose cohorts at an appropriate scientific forum in 2008.

Richard Chin, CEO and president of OXiGENE stated: “These encouraging initial data underscore the potential for delivering enhanced benefits to solid tumor patients by combining these different-yet-complementary therapies to deprive tumors of blood supply. Based on the results from this study, we plan to initiate by the first quarter of 2008 a controlled phase II study of Zybrestat plus bevacizumab and standard chemotherapy in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer.”