Dr. Weeks’ Comment: Here a company is offering a new drug to have “anti-CSC effects” (anti cancer STEM cell effects) – but what they don’t tell you is that the mechanism of action is ….. anti-inflammation. So we now learn again that the safe and effective anti-inflammatory agent is critical as regards addressing cancer. Eat the seeds – they are powerful anti-inflammatory. Read more here.
“…Preclinical studies have suggested that tarextumab exhibits two mechanisms of action: (1) by downregulating Notch pathway signaling, tarextumab appears to have anti-CSC effects…”
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Jan. 13, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — OncoMed Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:OMED), a clinical-stage company developing novel therapeutics that target cancer stem cells (CSCs), or tumor-initiating cells, will present new Phase Ib data for the company’s tarextumab (anti-Notch 2/3, OMP-59R5) program at the upcoming 2015 Gastrointestinal Cancer Symposium being held January 15-17 in San Francisco, CA. OncoMed is currently conducting two separate randomized Phase 2 clinical trials of tarextumab: the ALPINE trial in first-line metastatic pancreatic cancer and the PINNACLE study in first-line extensive-stage small cell lung cancer.
The following abstract has been selected for presentation:
- Abstract #278: Final results of Phase Ib of anticancer stem cell antibody tarextumab (OMP-59R5, TRXT, anti-Notch 2/3) in combination with nab-paclitaxel and gemcitabine (Nab-P+Gem) in patients (pts) with untreated metastatic pancreatic cancer (mPC).
Tarextumab (anti-Notch2/3, OMP-59R5) is a fully human monoclonal antibody that targets the Notch2 and Notch3 receptors. Preclinical studies have suggested that tarextumab exhibits two mechanisms of action: (1) by downregulating Notch pathway signaling, tarextumab appears to have anti-CSC effects, and (2) tarextumab affects pericytes, impacting stromal and tumor microenvironment. Tarextumab is currently being studied in two randomized Phase 2 clinical trials. The “ALPINE” study (Antibody therapy in first-Line Pancreatic cancer Investigating anti-Notch Efficacy and safety) is assessing tarextumab with Abraxane® (paclitaxel protein-bound particles for injectable suspension) (albumin bound) plus gemcitabine in first-line advanced pancreatic cancer patients. The “PINNACLE” study (A Phase 1b/2 Study of OMP-59R5 in Combination with Etoposide and Platinum Therapy in Subjects with Untreated Extensive Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer) is testing tarextumab in combination with etoposide and cisplatin and etoposide and carboplatin in first-line extensive stage small cell lung cancer patients. Tarextumab is part of OncoMed’s collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). GSK has an option to obtain an exclusive license to tarextumab during certain time periods through completion of the proof-of-concept Phase 2 trials.