FREMONT, Calif. and SEATTLE, April 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Abgenix, Inc.
(Nasdaq: ABGX) and Immunex Corporation (Nasdaq: IMNX) announced today that the
companies will start a Phase 2 clinical trial of ABX-EGF in patients with
kidney cancer. The Phase 2 trial will assess the tolerability and efficacy of
ABX-EGF as monotherapy (without concomitant chemotherapy) in patients with
kidney cancer. ABX-EGF is being developed jointly by Abgenix and Immunex.
Initiation of this study triggers a milestone payment from Immunex to Abgenix.
This multi-center, multiple-dose study will enroll up to 80 patients
across North America. Patients will receive eight weekly intravenous
infusions at varying doses of ABX-EGF. Preliminary results from an ongoing
Phase 1 study support the dose-escalating Phase 2 study protocol in kidney
cancer.
"We are happy to be moving forward with the first of several Phase 2
trials for ABX-EGF, our lead oncology antibody therapy in development," stated
R. Scott Greer, chairman and chief executive officer of Abgenix. "In the
coming months, Abgenix and Immunex will initiate a series of Phase 2 clinical
trials to explore the tolerability and efficacy of ABX-EGF in additional
cancer indications. Our hope is to provide effective, antibody-based
therapeutic options for cancer patients."
"We are encouraged by the preliminary results we are seeing in the Phase 1
trial for ABX-EGF," said Douglas Williams, Ph.D., Immunex executive vice
president and chief technology officer. "The potential ability of ABX-EGF to
target the EGF receptor is an exciting approach in cancer research, making it
a valuable addition to the Immunex arsenal of oncology molecules."
Preliminary results of an ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial of ABX-EGF will
be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual
meeting in May 2001.
About ABX-EGF
ABX-EGF is a fully human monoclonal antibody that targets the epidermal
growth factor receptor (EGFr), which is over-expressed on a variety of cancers
including lung, breast, bladder, prostate, colorectal, kidney and head and
neck cancer. It has been demonstrated that cancer cells can become dependent
on growth signals mediated through the EGFr for their survival. In mouse
models, ABX-EGF monotherapy has been shown to both eradicate established human
tumors and block the growth of human tumors.
Overexpression of the EGFr has been reported to occur in 70-90% of kidney
cancer tumors. In 2000, there were approximately 12,000 deaths associated
with kidney cancer and approximately 31,000 new cases of kidney cancer in the
United States. Renal cell carcinoma or kidney cancer is characterized by a
lack of early warning signs, which results in a high proportion of patients
being diagnosed with advanced disease. In cases where localized kidney tumors
are detected at an early stage, surgery provides the only curative therapy.
Metastatic kidney cancer is highly resistant to systemic therapies.
Therapeutic options for patients with advanced kidney cancer are very limited.
"There is an unmet medical need for new treatment options for patients
with kidney cancer," said Robert Figlin, M.D., Professor of Medicine and
Urology of the Johnsson Comprehensive Cancer Center at the UCLA School of
Medicine. "ABX-EGF, as a fully human monoclonal antibody, represents a
promising therapeutic approach to solid tumors, and I am encouraged by its
potential application in kidney cancer."
Abgenix is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and
commercialization of fully human monoclonal antibody therapies for a variety
of diseases. The company's antibody technology platform, which includes
XenoMouse(TM) technology, enables the rapid generation and selection of high
affinity, fully human antibody product candidates to essentially any disease
target appropriate for antibody therapy. Abgenix leverages its leadership
position in human antibody technology by building a large and diversified
product portfolio through the establishment of licensing arrangements with
multiple pharmaceutical, biotechnology and genomics companies and through the
development of its own internal proprietary products. For more information on
Abgenix, visit the company's website at http://www.abgenix.com.
Immunex Corporation is a leading biopharmaceutical company dedicated to
improving lives through immune system science innovations.
Statements made in this press release about ABX-EGF clinical trials,
Abgenix's XenoMouse technology, product development activities and
collaborative arrangements other than statements of historical fact, are
forward looking statements and are subject to a number of uncertainties that
could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made,
including risks associated with the success of clinical trials, the progress
of research and product development programs, the regulatory approval process,
competitive products, future capital requirements and the extent and breadth
of Abgenix's patent portfolio. Please see Abgenix's public filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission for information about risks that may affect
Abgenix.
NOTE: Except for the historical information contained herein, this news
release contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and
uncertainties. Among the factors that could cause actual results or timelines
to differ materially are risks associated with research and clinical
development, regulatory approvals, our supply capabilities and reliance on
third-party manufacturers, product commercialization, competition, litigation
and other risk factors listed from time to time in reports filed by Immunex
with the SEC, including but not limited to risks described under the caption
"Important Factors That May Affect Our Business, Our Results of Operations and
Our Stock Price" within our most recently filed Form 10-K. The
forward-looking statements contained in this news release represent our
judgment as of the date of this release. Immunex undertakes no obligation to
publicly update any forward-looking statements.
SOURCE Immunex Corporation
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.immunex.com
Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/434644.html or fax,
800-758-5804, ext. 434644
CONTACT:
Ina Cu, Media/Investor Relations of Abgenix,
Inc., 510-608- 4662; or press, Kris Greco, 206-470-4871, or
investors, Mark Leahy, 206-389- 4363, both of Immunex Corporation
|
