Amgen drug shows activity against tumors

The assessment of AMG 706 in 120 patients showed a clinical benefit rate of 27%. Treatment-related adverse events that occurred in 15% or more of all patients were diarrhea, hypertension, fatigue, headache and nausea.

“AMG 706 targets tyrosine kinases, a family of proteins thought to play an important role in controlling cell development and tumor growth,” said Robert Benjamin, chair, Sarcoma Medical Oncology Professor, Anderson Cancer Center. “Based on these encouraging findings, we believe that further study of AMG 706 is warranted.”

AMG 706 is an oral, highly selective inhibitor of the VEGF pathway, targeting all of the VEGF receptors that demonstrate both antiangiogenic and direct antitumor activity. AMG 706 is also being evaluated as a monotherapy in refractory differentiated or medullary thyroid cancer, where there exist no effective therapeutic options.