Irinotecan hydrochloride is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be used with other drugs to treat colorectal cancer that has metastasized (spread to other parts of the body). It is also approved to treat metastatic colorectal cancer that has recurred (come back) or gotten worse after earlier chemotherapy. In addition to the uses that have been approved by the FDA, irinotecan hydrochloride is sometimes used to treat other types of cancer. Irinotecan hydrochloride is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer.
Radioactive yttrium-90 labelled resin microspheres (SIR-Spheres; Sirtex Medical, Sydney, Australia) appear to be a safe and effective treatment for patients with colorectal cancer liver metastases who have failed available chemotherapy options, according to the final results of a prospective clinical multi-centre phase II trial conducted by the Italian Society of Locoregional Therapies in Oncology (SITILO) and published in the British Journal of Cancer.
Amgen today announced top-line results from a randomized Phase 3 trial evaluating Vectibix as a first-line treatment in patients with recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell head and neck cancer. The data showed the addition of Vectibix to platinum-based chemotherapy did not result in a statistically significant improvement in overall survival, the primary endpoint, compared to chemotherapy alone.
Array BioPharma Inc. today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year of fiscal 2010.
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced financial and operating results for the second quarter of 2010. The Company reported a net loss of $25.5 million, or $0.31 per share (basic and diluted), for the second quarter of 2010 compared with a net loss of $14.9 million, or $0.19 per share (basic and diluted), for the second quarter of 2009.
Nektar Therapeutics announced today that data presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) 12th World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer demonstrates that NKTR-102, the company's lead oncology compound, exhibits superior activity compared to irinotecan as part of either a monotherapy or combination regimen in tumor models of gastrointestinal cancers.
The combination of Biothera's experimental drug Imprime PGG® and Erbitux® (cetuximab) doubled the historical overall response rate and the time to progression of second- and third-line metastatic colorectal cancer patients treated with Erbitux monotherapy. The data was released last weekend at the 13th World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO).
Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, has revealed new results from a global survey demonstrating that 66% of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) are now tested for KRAS to determine if they could benefit from a personalized therapy, such as Erbitux® (cetuximab). This represents a 50% increase in levels of KRAS testing in just one year.
Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that abstract O-0017, entitled "Subset Analysis of 5-FU Refractory Patients from a Randomized Ph II Study of Perifosine + Capecitabine (P-CAP) vs. Placebo + Capecitabine (CAP) in Patients with 2nd or 3rd Line Metastatic CRC" has been selected for oral presentation at the upcoming 12th World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer, to be held in Barcelona, Spain from June 30 - July 2, 2010.
Nektar Therapeutics announced today that the first patients have been dosed in a new Phase 1 dose-escalation clinical study to evaluate NKTR-102, the company's lead oncology compound, in combination with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)/leucovorin in refractory solid tumor cancers. The study is being conducted at University Hospitals Case Medical Center of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center in Cleveland, Ohio.
Celator Pharmaceuticals today announced that it has expanded its research agreement with Cephalon, Inc.. The research agreement provides for the utilization of Celator's proprietary technology in an ongoing drug development and life-cycle management program at Cephalon.
Arno Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing oncology therapeutics, today announced the dosing of the first patient in an investigator sponsored Phase I/IIa clinical study of AR-42 (formerly OSU-HDAC42) at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC-James) in adult patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (MM), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or lymphoma.
Immunomedics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing monoclonal antibodies to treat cancer and other serious diseases, today announced the dosing of the first patient in a Phase I/II clinical trial of the doxorubicin conjugate of milatuzumab for the treatment of patients with relapsed multiple myeloma.
Celator Pharmaceuticals today announced that new data from a preclinical leukemia study in mice demonstrate that its lead product, CPX-351 (Cytarabine:Daunorubicin) Liposome Injection, alone or in combination with clofarabine or azacytidine can improve treatment outcomes compared to the combination of either agent with the conventional (unencapsulated) cytarabine:daunorubicin regimen.
Aeterna Zentaris Inc., a late-stage drug development company specialized in oncology and endocrine therapy, today reported final results on the clinical activity of perifosine (KRX-0401), the Company's novel, potentially first-in-class, oral anticancer agent that inhibits Akt activation in the phosphoinositide 3-kinase pathway, in combination with capecitabine (Xeloda) as a treatment for advanced, metastatic colorectal cancer.
Merck announced today results from a new non-inferiority trial of an antiemetic regimen containing fosaprepitant dimeglumine administered as a single intravenous (IV) 150-mg dose in combination with a 5-HT3 antagonist and dexamethasone compared with a three-day regimen of aprepitant with a 5-HT3 antagonist and dexamethasone for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in patients receiving a first cycle of cisplatin-based chemotherapy.
More women fighting cancers such as breast, lung, colorectal and ovarian can now help prevent the nausea and vomiting associated with their treatment of moderately emetogenic (vomit-inducing) cancer chemotherapy. Although new treatment entities have been developed in the past 10 years for control of chemically-induced nausea and vomiting, CINV remains a significant problem in the context of current practice.
The National Cancer Coalition is pleased to announce that it recently received a $25,000 grant award from the Hospira Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Hospira, Inc., to support its pharmaceutical relief program within the Dominican Republic. NCC is seeking to significantly increase the levels of medical resources that it provides to the public hospitals of the Dominican Republic in an effort to more fully treat the country's underserved patients, and this grant will contribute toward achieving that goal.
Pfizer Oncology will present new data highlighting the company's focused approach to cancer drug development through the identification and validation of molecular targets. These results will be presented at the 46th Annual American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago from June 4-8.
Oncolytics Biotech Inc. announced today that following submission to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for review, the Company is initiating a U.S. Phase I study of REOLYSIN(R) in combination with FOLFIRI (Folinic Acid (leucovorin) + Fluorouracil (5-FU) + Irinotecan) in patients with oxaliplatin refractory/intolerant Kras mutant colorectal cancer.
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced financial and operating results for the first quarter of 2010. The Company reported a net loss of $30.5 million, or $0.38 per share (basic and diluted), for the first quarter of 2010 compared with a net loss of $15.4 million, or $0.19 per share (basic and diluted), for the first quarter of 2009.