Active Biotech, Ipsen announce new data on biomarkers from tasquinimod Phase II study in CRPC

Active Biotech (NASDAQ OMX NORDIC: ACTI) and Ipsen (Euronext: IPN; ADR: IPSEY) have presented a new set of data on biomarkers from the previously concluded tasquinimod Phase II study in chemotherapy-naïve metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) at the scientific congress ESMO (European Society for Medical Oncology) held in Vienna September 28-October 2.

Dr Michael Carducci, Johns Hopkins Medical Institute, Baltimore, US, presented on Saturday September 29 the poster "Tasquinimod mechanism of action biomarkers: Correlation with PFS and survival in men with metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer treated in a randomized phase 2 trial*".

The purpose of this analysis from the phase II trial was to investigate the effects of tasquinimod on selected biomarkers to confirm preclinical findings on the mechanism of action. The results support an effect of tasquinimod on both immunomodulation and angiogenesis which positions tasquinimod as a potentially unique therapeutic approach with a mechanism of action that does not target the androgen receptor pathway.

The findings shall be further validated in the ongoing phase III placebo-controlled study in men with bone-metastatic CRPC, which has been adequately powered to detect an OS improvement .