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ARIUS announces cancer stem cell antibody program successfully completes first toxicology study
ARIUS announces cancer stem cell antibody program successfully completes first toxicology study.
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[{"type":"text","content":"\n\n\n\n-Lead antibody targeting novel epitope of CD44 found in breast colon, and\n prostate cancers-\n\n\nTORONTO, Oct. 23 /CNW/ - ARIUS Research Inc., (TSX: ARI), a biotechnology\ncompany discovering and developing the next wave of antibody therapeutics,\ntoday announced that the lead drug candidate from its CD44 Cancer Stem Cell\nprogram has successfully completed its first toxicology study and has shown\ngood efficacy in animal models. ARIUS' program targets a novel epitope of CD44\nthat has been found in a number of cancer indications including breast, colon,\nand prostate cancers. Two humanized versions of the CD44 targeting antibody\nhave been generated in preparation for the initiation of human clinical trials\nin 2008.\n\n\n"To be effective against cancer, a treatment must eliminate the cancer\nstems cells that at the heart of the disease that are driving tumor growth and\nseeding new tumors," said Dr. David Young, President and CEO. "Our CD44\ntargeting antibody is one of the most advanced drug candidates to target\ncancer stem cells. CD44 is considered an especially attractive target for\nanti-tumor drug discovery and development because it has been identified as a\ncancer stem cell marker in breast, prostate and colon cancers. Having now\nsuccessfully completed our initial CD44 toxicology study, we look forward to\nmoving our CD44 antibody toward human clinical trials in 2008."\n\n\nToxicology Presentation\n\n\nARIUS has demonstrated that its antibody targets a novel epitope of CD44\nthat is present on the majority of human tumors. A dose-ranging pilot\ntoxicology study in non-human primate models demonstrated no dose-limiting\ntoxic effects at doses up to 95 mg/kg. Effects observed in healthy animals\nwere minor and transient.\n\n\nAdditional information can be found at AACR-NCI-EORTC 2007 International\nConference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics in San Francisco at\nthe following location and times: Abstract B41: "Toxicology and\npharmacokinetics of chimeric ARH460-16-2, a therapeutic monoclonal antibody\ntargeting CD44." Session B, Wednesday, October 24, 2007, between\n12:30-2:30 p.m. and 5:30-7:30 p.m.\n\n\nEfficacy Presentation\n\n\nARIUS' CD44 targeting antibody has demonstrated significant tumor growth\ninhibitory activity in in vivo animal models of breast, prostate,...