The article presents pre-clinical data regarding Active Biotech's project TASQ for the treatment of prostate cancer.
The objective for the TASQ project is to develop a pharmaceutical product that can be administered orally for the chronic treatment of prostate cancer. TASQ is currently in Phase I clinical trials in prostate cancer patients.
Phase II studies are scheduled to commence during 2007.
The tumor growth of a series of human prostate cancer xenografts in male nude mice given nothing vs. TASQ alone, or in combination with androgen ablation or with androgen ablation plus docetaxel (Taxotere®), were evaluated. Daily oral treatment with TASQ consistently inhibited the tumor growth of all of the six xenograft models tested in a dose dependent manner via an anti-angiogenic response. TASQ's anti-prostate cancer efficacy was enhanced when combined with androgen ablation or with androgen ablation plus docetaxel. The results also documented that differences in serum PSA in TASQ treated hosts vs. controls are related to inhibition of tumor growth.
This indicates that in humans, changes in PSA velocity or doubling time may indicate a therapeutic response to TASQ.
Lund, March 27, 2007
Active Biotech AB (publ)
Sven Andréasson
President and CEO
* "The quinoline-3-carboxamide anti-angiogenic agent, tasquinimod, enhances the anti-prostate cancer efficacy of androgen ablation and Taxotere without effecting serum PSA directly in human xenografts" , Dalrymple SL, Becker RE, Isaacs JT.
(PMID: 17373719, pre-available as an e-publication at NCBI National Center for Biotechnology, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/).
Active Biotech AB is a biotechnology company focusing on research and development of pharmaceuticals. Active Biotech has a strong R&D portfolio with pipeline products focused on autoimmune/inflammatory diseases and cancer. Most advanced projects are laquinimod, an orally administered small molecule with unique immunomodulatory properties for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, as well as ANYARA for use in cancer immunotherapy with the primary indication non-small cell lung cancer. Further key projects in clinical development comprise the three orally administered compounds TASQ for prostate cancer 57-57 for SLE and RhuDex® for RA. In addition, the preclinical development of the I-3D project is being conducted in cooperation with Chelsea Therapeutics.
Active Biotech AB
Box 724, SE-220 07 Lund
Tel: +46 46-19 20 00
Fax: +46 46-19 20 50
www.activebiotech.com