The Berlin biotech company MOLOGEN AG has had good results so far in a clinical study with the cancer drug MGN1703. The safety and efficacy of MGN1703 are currently under investigation in a phase I trial.
MGN1703 has demonstrated a favorable safety profile and good tolerability thus far. The dosing regimen specified in the study plan could therefore be followed without modification.
Patients were initially treated with single doses of the drug. Based on good tolerability, when the single treatment was over, all patients were switched to a higher dose involving multiple administrations for a longer period. Currently the last patient group is going to be included and will be treated according to the highest dosing regimen planned.
Assuming the trial continues to proceed according to plan, MOLOGEN expects to finish the treatments at the end of the first quarter of 2009.
In consideration of the favorable progress and imminent completion of the study, MOLOGEN is currently intensively engaged in preparing additional clinical trials investigating the efficacy of MGN1703 (phase II).
Dr. Matthias Schroff, CEO of MOLOGEN AG, said: “We are extremely pleased with the progress of the study so far and the safety profile of MGN1703. When the current treatments are finished, we want to start additional studies on MGN1703 as soon as possible in order to investigate the drug’s efficacy potential in the treatment of various cancers.”
Information about the clinical study with MGN1703
The study (Phase I) of the safety, compatibility and immunological effect of MGN1703 in the treatment of various cancers is a major milestone for a comprehensive clinical development program. The study is currently performed at the renowned cancer centers in university hospitals in Essen and Cologne. MOLOGEN plans to establish an effective, compatible treatment for the treatment of the most frequent cancers in the form of MGN1703.
dSLIM® - an innovative TLR9 agonist
In dSLIM® (“double Stem Loop Immunomodulator”), MOLOGEN has developed an innovative TLR9 agonist. Use of dSLIM® activates the immune system against tumor-associated antigens by targeting the different receptors, primarily TLR9, on certain immune cells. As a result of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, tumor-associated antigens (TAA) are released by cancer cells. The immune system activated by dSLIM® is in a position to overcome its fatal tolerance towards cancer cells and TAA and advance against them strategically.
About MOLOGEN
MOLOGEN AG, a biopharmaceutical company based in Berlin, specializes in the research and development of innovative medicines based on DNA structures (DNA: deoxyribonucleic acid).
Its patented DNA-based technology platforms MIDGE® and dSLIM® form a universal foundation with a wide range of possible applications. Activities focus on product developments for the treatment of cancer and vaccines for serious infections in humans and animals.
MOLOGEN was founded in 1998 and was the first German biotechnology company to go public. MOLOGEN AG shares are listed in the General Standard of Deutsche Börse (ISIN DE 0006637200).
Disclaimer concerning prognoses
Certain statements in this communication contain formulations or terms referring to the future or future developments, as well as negations of such formulations or terms, or similar terminology. These are described as forward-looking statements. In addition, all information in this communication regarding planned or future results of business segments, financial classification numbers, developments of the financial situation, or other financial or statistical data contains such forward-looking statements. The company cautions prospective investors not to rely on such forward-looking statements as certain prognoses of actual future events and developments. The company is neither responsible nor liable for these forward-looking statements. It is not responsible for updating such information, which only represents the state of affairs on the day of publication.
