Business
Stimuvax(R) Phase II data highlight three-year survival results for patients with non-small cell lung cancer
Stimuvax(R) Phase II data highlight three-year survival results for patients with non-small cell lung cancer.
About this update from Skrr Exploration, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"\n\n\n\nEDMONTON, Sept. 5 /CNW/ - Biomira Inc. (Nasdaq: BIOM) (TSX: BRA) today\nannounced the presentation of three-year survival results from a randomized\nPhase II trial of the Stimuvax(R) MUC-1 vaccine in non-small cell lung cancer\n(NSCLC). The results suggest that Stimuvax combined with best supportive care\n(BSC) may provide survival benefits to patients with unresectable stage IIIB\nNSCLC who had either responded or had stable disease after initial\nradio-chemotherapy, compared with patients receiving BSC alone. Dr. Charles\nButts, from the Department of Medical Oncology, Cross Cancer Institute,\nEdmonton, Alberta and lead investigator of the Phase II study presented the\ndata yesterday (Abstract No. B1-01) at the International Association for the\nStudy of Lung Cancer (IASLC) Congress in Seoul, South Korea.\n\n\nThe updated survival results show that approximately twice as many\npatients were still alive at three years in the Stimuvax arm compared with BSC\nalone (49% (n(equal sign)17) vs. 27% (n(equal sign)8)), representing a 45% reduction in mortality.\nAs previously reported, patients with stage IIIB locoregional disease who\nreceived Stimuvax in this trial also experienced a 17.3 month difference in\nmedian survival compared with patients receiving BSC alone (30.6 months vs.\n13.3 months, respectively). Patients receiving Stimuvax in this trial also\nreported mild to moderate side effects limited to flu-like symptoms,\ngastro-intestinal disturbances and mild injection site reactions.\n\n\n"The updated survival data are encouraging and support the need for\nfurther investigation via the ongoing Phase III trial of Stimuvax as a\nmaintenance therapy for patients with advanced lung cancer," commented Dr.\nButts.\n\n\nBased on the Phase II results, Stimuvax has entered its Phase III\ndevelopment and the START (Stimulating Targeted Antigenic Responses to NSCLC)\ntrial is currently open for enrollment. The START trial is being conducted by\nMerck KGaA of Darmstadt, Germany, which has licensed worldwide development and\ncommercialization rights to Stimuvax from Biomira. Stimuvax is being developed\nin Europe by Merck KGaA and in the United States by its affiliate, EMD Serono\nInc.\n\n\n"Patients with unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer have\nsignificant unmet medical need, and the START study is ...