MedImmune reports three-pronged action of anticancer drug

The new data provides additional insight into the drug’s mechanism of action, which is believed to inhibit tumor growth, bone metastases and angiogenesis.

Results indicate that Abegrin’s mechanism of anti-tumor action may involve both direct and indirect effects on a tumor’s ability to grow or spread. Data from these studies also suggest that the majority of Abegrin’s anti-tumor activity is likely to be mediated through antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), and that the antibody does not shrink tumors but does appear to slow progression.

These data support the encouraging overall survival results produced in a previous phase II trial with metastatic melanoma patients. In the light of the encouraging data the company plans to move ahead with a confirmatory phase III trial for Abegrin in patients with melanoma.

“We were encouraged by results of our phase II study which suggested that Abegrin may prolong survival in melanoma patients,” said Dr Dirk Reitsma, vice president, clinical development, oncology. “We have since acquired additional supportive preclinical and clinical data, expanding our insight into how Abegrin works.”

Abegrin is a monoclonal antibody that targets the alpha-v beta-3 integrin, which is a protein expressed on the surface of newly forming blood vessels, certain tumor types and on a number of other cell types, including macrophages and osteoclasts.