BioInvent Presents Positive Preclinical Data for BI-505 in Myeloma
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BioInvent International AB presents preclinical data demonstrating anti-tumour activity of its therapeutic cancer antibody BI-505 targeting ICAM-1. The data, presented at the XIIth International Myeloma Workshop in Washington DC, demonstrates that the compound is more efficacious in prolonging survival in animal models compared to bortezomib.
The drug launched in 2003 for treatment of multiple myeloma, has shown strong performance in a market with estimated 40,000 new cases annually globally.
BI-505 is a fully human monoclonal antibody derived from BioInvent’s proprietary antibody library n-CoDeR®. BI-505 was recently granted orphan drug designation by the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicines (EMEA) for multiple myeloma, having previously been awarded Orphan Drug designation by the FDA in the US market. It is anticipated that the antibody could have an important role in the refractory or relapsed setting, due to up-regulation of ICAM-1 in patients who have developed resistance to chemotherapy.
The research to date suggests that by targeting ICAM-1, an adhesion molecule that is highly expressed in tumour cells, BI-505 directly inhibits tumour cell growth by inducing cell death through direct cell cytotoxicity (apoptosis) and also antibody dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC).
Svein Mathisen, CEO of BioInvent, commented, “We believe BI-505 will address a major unmet medical need in multiple myeloma. The antibody has demonstrated exciting pre-clinical results and we look forward to proceeding with a Phase I trial mid-2009. Due to upregulation of ICAM-1 in patients who have developed resistance and BI-505’s mechanism of action, we believe that BI-505 could make an important contribution to treatment options for patients with refractory and relapsed myeloma.”
The drug launched in 2003 for treatment of multiple myeloma, has shown strong performance in a market with estimated 40,000 new cases annually globally.
BI-505 is a fully human monoclonal antibody derived from BioInvent’s proprietary antibody library n-CoDeR®. BI-505 was recently granted orphan drug designation by the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicines (EMEA) for multiple myeloma, having previously been awarded Orphan Drug designation by the FDA in the US market. It is anticipated that the antibody could have an important role in the refractory or relapsed setting, due to up-regulation of ICAM-1 in patients who have developed resistance to chemotherapy.
The research to date suggests that by targeting ICAM-1, an adhesion molecule that is highly expressed in tumour cells, BI-505 directly inhibits tumour cell growth by inducing cell death through direct cell cytotoxicity (apoptosis) and also antibody dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC).
Svein Mathisen, CEO of BioInvent, commented, “We believe BI-505 will address a major unmet medical need in multiple myeloma. The antibody has demonstrated exciting pre-clinical results and we look forward to proceeding with a Phase I trial mid-2009. Due to upregulation of ICAM-1 in patients who have developed resistance and BI-505’s mechanism of action, we believe that BI-505 could make an important contribution to treatment options for patients with refractory and relapsed myeloma.”
