Healthcare Industry News: gastrointestinal stromal tumor
News Release - September 17, 2007
Infinity and MedImmune Receive Orphan Drug Designation for IPI-504 for Treatment of Gastroinstestinal Stromal Tumors
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. and GAITHERSBURG, Md., Sept. 17, 2007 (Healthcare Sales & Marketing Network) -- Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NasdaqGM:INFI ) and MedImmune today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Office of Orphan Products Development has granted IPI-504 orphan drug designation for the treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). IPI-504, the companies' heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) inhibitor, is currently being evaluated in two separate multi-center clinical trials in patients with GIST and other soft tissue sarcomas (STS), and in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.At ASCO in June 2007, Infinity and MedImmune provided updated preliminary data from the open-label Phase I study of IPI-504 in patients with relapsed, refractory Gleevec(r)-resistant GIST and STS. As measured by RECIST criteria, 16 of 21 evaluated patients (76 percent) had a best response of Stable Disease. The companies also assessed positron emission tomography (PET) response on a 21-day cycle with patients treated on days 1, 4, 8, and 11, followed by 10 days off treatment (Schedule A). PET response was measured using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer's (EORTC) criteria that entail a quantitative measurement using SUVmax (maximum standardized uptake value). As reported, 15 of 18 evaluated patients (83 percent) achieved Partial Response or Stable Disease by EORTC PET response criteria.
In addition, the companies have now completed the dose escalation portion of the Phase I trial in patients with GIST/STS, and have initiated the expansion phase of the trial at 400 mg/m2 on Schedule A. In this expansion phase, 20 additional patients will be evaluated to further characterize safety and biological activity of IPI-504.
About Orphan Drug Designation
Orphan drug designation is granted by the FDA to products that are used to treat rare diseases or conditions that affect fewer than 200,000 people in the United States. The designation allows Infinity and MedImmune FDA protocol assistance to optimize drug development; reduced fees associated with applying for market approval; and the right to seven years of market exclusivity after market approval for the use of IPI-504 in the treatment of GIST.
About IPI-504
IPI-504 is a small molecule drug candidate being developed jointly by Infinity and MedImmune. IPI-504 has been well-tolerated in its ongoing Phase I studies and has shown promising biological activity in a Phase I clinical trial in patients with relapsed, refractory Gleevec(r)-resistant GIST. IPI-504 is also being evaluated in a Phase I/II clinical trial in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. In preclinical studies, IPI-504 has been shown to inhibit Hsp90 potently and selectively, thereby killing cancer cells. IPI-504 has also demonstrated, in preclinical studies, broad potential to treat certain cancers as both a single agent as well as in combination with existing anti-cancer drugs. The water-based formulation of IPI-504 is delivered as an intravenous infusion. Infinity and MedImmune are currently developing and evaluating two oral Hsp90 inhibitors, which have both demonstrated potent and selective inhibition of Hsp90 in preclinical models.
About gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) and Hsp90
The American Cancer Society (ACS) reports that GIST is the most frequent form of gastrointestinal sarcoma, a life-threatening disease highly resistant to traditional cytotoxic chemotherapy or radiation treatment. The ACS estimates that between 4,500 and 6,000 Americans develop GIST each year. In the majority of GIST cases, specific mutations in cellular signaling enzymes (``kinases'') called KIT or PDGFRA cause the growth and survival signal of the cell to become permanently active, leading to cancer. Both KIT and PDGFRA are client proteins of Hsp90, suggesting that inhibition of Hsp90 in GIST is an attractive area for clinical study.
About Infinity - MedImmune Collaboration
In August 2006, Infinity and MedImmune entered into an agreement to jointly develop and commercialize novel small molecule cancer drugs targeting Hsp90, including IPI-504 and IPI-493, as well as those targeting the Hedgehog cell signaling pathway, including IPI-926.
About Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Infinity is an innovative cancer drug discovery and development company that is seeking to leverage its strength in small molecule drug technologies to discover, develop, and deliver to patients best-in-class medicines for the treatment of cancer and related conditions. For more information on Infinity, please refer to the company's website at http://www.ipi.com.
About MedImmune
MedImmune strives to provide better medicines to patients, new medical options for physicians and rewarding careers to employees. Dedicated to advancing science and medicine to help people live better lives, the company is focused on the areas of infectious diseases, cancer and inflammatory diseases. With approximately 3,000 employees worldwide and headquarters in Maryland, MedImmune is wholly owned by AstraZeneca plc (LSE: AZN.L, NYSE: AZN). For more information, visit MedImmune's website at http://www.medimmune.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This announcement contains, in addition to historical information, certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, in particular statements related to the research and development of IPI-504 and other compounds targeting Hsp90. Such statements reflect the current views of MedImmune and/or Infinity management and are based on certain assumptions. MedImmune is a member of the AstraZeneca Group of companies. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated as a result of a number of factors, including risks and uncertainties discussed in the reports and other documents filed by AstraZeneca plc with the Securities and Exchange Commission and in Infinity's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2007 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. There can be no assurance that such development efforts will succeed, that the products will receive required regulatory clearance or, even if such regulatory clearance is received, that the subsequent products will ultimately achieve commercial success. Further, any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement speak only as of the date hereof, and AstraZeneca and Infinity expressly disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise may be required by applicable law or regulation.
Gleevec(r) is a registered trademark of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.
Source: Infinity Pharmaceuticals
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