Avid has begun manufacturing a supply of the drug for human clinical trials which Arius plans to initiate in 2008. Arius has also scheduled a pre-IND meeting with the FDA that will take place in January.
Arius is advancing the formal pre-clinical toxicology program for its lead CD44 Cancer Stem Cell program, an anti-cancer antibody targeting a novel epitope of CD44 found in breast, colon, and prostate cancers. The CD44 cancer stem cell program was generated using Arius’ proprietary FunctionFIRST technology, which selects antibodies based on their ability to kill cancer cells.
David Young, president and CEO of Arius, said: “Avid has proven expertise in the scale-up and manufacture of clinical and commercial grade antibodies and will provide us with a supply of our CD44 targeting drug to initiate human clinical trials in 2008, subject to the clearance of our IND by the FDA.”