Subject to FDA acceptance and Institutional Review Board approval at the planned clinical site, Cytogen will begin its first phase I clinical trial of CYT-500 in patients with hormone- refractory prostate cancer.
CYT-500 targets prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA). PSMA is a protein abundantly expressed on the surface of prostate cancer cells, with an increased expression in high-grade cancers, metastatic disease and hormone-refractory prostate cancer.
PSMA is also present at high levels on the newly formed blood vessels, or neovasculature, needed for the growth and survival of many solid tumors.
CYT-500 incorporates the same monoclonal antibody utilized in Cytogen’s prostascint molecular imaging agent, but is linked to a therapeutic as opposed to an imaging payload.
Speaking of the company’s strategy, Michael Becker, president and CEO of Cytogen said; “We seek to expand our focus on developing and commercializing a broader range of therapeutic oncology products.”