According to the oncology company, the study also confirms previous observations that nimotuzumab inhibits ligand-dependent EGF receptor downstream signaling.
“The data presented at SBNet provides further evidence that nimotuzumab binds to the receptor, while the independent data from Kinki and Kyoto demonstrated the synergistic effect of nimotuzumab and radiation on cancer cells and inhibition of EGFr down-stream signaling in the presence of nimotuzumab,” said Dr Igor Sherman, director of clinical research at YM BioSciences.
Dr Sherman noted that questions had been raised about whether nimotuzumab is truly interacting with the EGF receptor, due to commonly-seen side affects of EGFr-targeting therapy, such as rash and diarrhea.
David Allan, chairman and CEO of YM BioSciences, said: “We conclude that nimotuzumab behaves no differently than the other EGFr-targeting antibodies and that the limited and rare incidences of the debilitating side-effects that are commonly seen with other antibodies and small molecules targeting the tyrosine kinase pathway indicates that nimotuzumab has the prospect of being ‘best-in-class’ without compromised efficacy.”
Daiichi Sankyo is the licensee for nimotuzumab in Japan.