LA JOLLA, Calif., May 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Agouron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(Nasdaq: AGPH) today announced initiation of phase II/III clinical trials, in
patients with advanced lung or prostate cancer, to evaluate an experimental
anticancer agent known as AG3340, a matrix metalloprotease inhibitor with
potent anti-angiogenesis activity. In rodents, AG3340 potently inhibits
angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels which feed growing tumors),
tumor growth and metastasis and also enhances the anti-tumor activity of
certain conventional chemotherapy agents. Phase I clinical studies have shown
AG3340 to be well tolerated at the doses to be administered in the pivotal
trials which have an initial phase II dose-evaluation period.
In a randomized trial to be carried out in sites throughout North America,
AG3340 will be administered in tablet form to patients with advanced nonsmall
cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in combination with Taxol(R) (paclitaxel) and
Paraplatin(R) (carboplatin). The primary objective of this study is to
compare time to progression between patients receiving AG3340 or placebo in
combination with paclitaxel and carboplatin.
In a second randomized trial, patients with advanced hormone-refractory
prostate cancer will receive AG3340 in tablet form in combination with
Novantrone(R) (mitoxantrone) and prednisone. The primary objective of this
study is to evaluate time-to-symptomatic progression of disease. Secondary
endpoints in both trials include response rates, survival, and quality of life
measurements.
AG3340 is an orally active, synthetic molecule designed to inhibit the
growth, invasion and metastasis of solid tumors by inactivating certain
members of a family of enzymes known as matrix metalloproteases (MMPs).
AG3340 selectively inhibits those MMPs believed to be involved in tumor
progression. A primary goal of the clinical studies of AG3340 is to determine
whether this distinctive selectivity results in a favorable clinical profile
of safety and efficacy. Agouron is also conducting preclinical evaluation of
second generation MMP inhibitors with selectivity profiles distinct from that
of AG3340.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in much of
the world. The American Cancer Society estimates there will be approximately
171,500 (91,400 among men and 80,100 among women) new cases of lung cancer in
1998 in the U.S. Lung cancer will account for about 14% of all new cancer
diagnoses, and about 29% of all cancer-related deaths. The National Cancer
Institute of Canada in 1997 estimated 20,300 people were diagnosed with lung
cancer in Canada; approximately 16,900 people died of the disease.
Prostate cancer is a leading cause of cancer morbidity and mortality in
men in North America and Europe. The American Cancer Society estimates
184,000 new cases will occur in 1998 in the United States and 39,200 men will
die from the disease. In Canada, approximately 19,800 new cases of prostate
cancer were estimated in 1997. Of these, 4,100 men were estimated to have
died of the disease.
For information on AG3340 clinical trials in lung and prostate cancer dial
toll-free 1-888-9-CANCER.
Agouron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is an integrated pharmaceutical company
committed to the discovery, development, manufacturing, and marketing of
small-molecule drugs engineered to inactivate proteins that play key roles in
cancer, AIDS, and other serious diseases.
This press release may contain forward-looking statements or predictions.
These statements represent our judgment as of this date and are subject to
risks and uncertainties, that could cause the actual results to differ
materially. Important factors concerning these risks are discussed in our
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1997 currently on file with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
For further information about Agouron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., or about MMP
inhibitors, see Agouron's website http://www.agouron.com.
Taxol(R) and Paraplatin(R) are registered trademarks of Bristol-Myers
Squibb Oncology/Immunology.
Novantrone(R) is a registered trademark of the Immunex Corporation.
SOURCE Agouron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
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CONTACT:
Investors: Donna Nichols, Vice President,
Head of Corporate Communications, 619-622-3009 or Media: Joy
Schmitt, Manager, Product Public Relations, 619-622-3220, both of
Agouron Pharmaceuticals
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