Circadian Technologies Limited (ASX.CIR) today released data demonstrating that its lead anti-cancer therapeutic, VGX-100, significantly inhibits tumour growth in a variety of different animal models (tumour xenografts) of human cancer. These data indicate that, if clinically validated, VGX-100 has the potential to be a useful new treatment for some types of cancer.
VGX-100 is a fully human monoclonal antibody targeting the VEGF-C growth factor. VGX-100 inhibits the development of blood vessels that are required for tumour growth. Additionally, VGX-100 may inhibit cancer spread (metastasis) by suppressing the development of lymphatic vessels.
Highlights of the data are as follows:
- In a mouse model of human prostate cancer, treatment of animals with a triple combination of VGX-100, Avastin and docetaxel inhibited tumour growth by 83.4%, as compared to only 35.8% in animals treated with Avastin plus docetaxel alone.
In the same study, animals treated with the triple combination were four times as likely to survive until the end of the study as animals treated with docetaxel alone. Survival was increased 2.7 times over animals treated with docetaxel plus Avastin.
40% of animals treated with the triple combination were tumour-free at the conclusion of the study (tumours had been eradicated). This compares to none (0%) that were tumour free among the animals treated with docetaxel plus Avastin and 20% among animals treated with docetaxel alone. - In a glioblastoma animal model, VGX-100 added to Avastin achieved a statistically significant improvement in tumour growth inhibition compared to untreated animals. The tumours in animals treated with VGX-100 plus Avastin were on average 42% smaller than untreated control animals.
- In a pancreatic cancer model, treatment with VGX-100 inhibited tumour growth similar to that achieved in animals treated with the drug Avastin.
The data will be presented at the upcoming American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting on 19 April 2010. A more detailed description and data figures are contained in the Appendix that follows.