DUBLIN, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Neoprobe Corporation (NYSE Amex: NEOP), a diversified developer of innovative diagnostic products, today announced that it received positive scientific advice late last week from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) on the development of RIGScanTM CR, the Company’s proprietary radiopharmaceutical for the detection of colorectal cancer.
In the EMA meeting, Neoprobe sought scientific guidance on the chemistry, manufacturing and controls (CMC) related to RIGScan and on non-clinical requirements needed to resume clinical development. EMA provided positive feedback on these development activities and on Neoprobe’s plan for manufacturing and non-clinical testing. Importantly, EMA confirmed the opportunity for Neoprobe to consider evaluating a humanized RIGScan antibody for clinical development and commercialization.
The meeting with the European regulatory body follows a successful pre-investigational new drug (IND) meeting with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) earlier this year. Potential use of a humanized antibody form instead of a mouse-based antibody is an important, positive development enabling utility of an improved technology, state-of-the art manufacturing processes and a more clinically acceptable drug. The potential shift to a humanized structure would better position the product for regulatory approval, partnering, commercialization and enhanced intellectual property protection opportunities.
“Following review of our development package, EMA provided important guidance on our RIGScan development plan which allows us to maintain our current activities in re-starting manufacturing of the RIGScan antibody,” said Rodger Brown, Vice President, Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance of Neoprobe. “Positive guidance from both agencies enables us to begin harmonized efforts to reintroduce RIGScan back into the clinic. We are evaluating the overall implications on our clinical plans of the specific feedback received from these two agencies, but the guidance received to date from regulatory authorities is consistent with our objective of bringing the technology back into clinical development.”
The Company does not believe that the transition to a humanized antibody would delay the ongoing CMC process development activities underway since the FDA pre-IND meeting. Additionally, based on the discussion of clinical objectives for RIGScan with EMA, the Company does not envision that a change to the humanized antibody form will increase the anticipated overall number of patients required for registration. Detailed plans for clinical development must be presented to and discussed with both FDA and EMA to align, to the extent possible, the clinical studies required for approval.
“Positive feedback from EMA and FDA is a critical step toward reactivating the RIGS® technology development effort after being out of the clinical setting for more than 14 years,” said Dr. Mark Pykett, Neoprobe President and Chief Executive Officer. “Re-initiating any program on the sidelines for an extended period requires clear, deliberate steps. The opportunity to move away from an antiquated mouse-based antibody to a state-of-the-art humanized form can potentially provide important return on our investment. We look forward to clarifying next steps in the coming months toward bringing our RIGS program back online and moving ahead with developing a novel agent aimed at improving diagnosis and treatment for colorectal cancer patients.”
About RIGScanTM CR
Neoprobe’s RIGScanTM CR is being developed as a diagnostic technology for the intra-operative detection of clinically occult or metastatic disease in patients with colon or rectal cancer. RIGScan is a targeting antibody consisting of a radiolabeled monoclonal antibody tagged with any of several potential radioisotopes to help detect cancer in patients having colorectal cancer. Previous clinical studies in patients with colorectal cancer demonstrated that RIGScan detected, at a significant rate, the presence of occult tumor that had been missed during surgery. In 2004, survival analyses of patients with colorectal cancer enrolled in the RIGScan clinical studies indicated that RIGScan status was potentially correlated with patient survival trends and that RIGScan may be predictive of, or possibly contribute to, a positive outcome when measuring survival of patients that participated in earlier studies. Based on these findings and the continued unmet medical need in identifying tumors in patients with colorectal cancer and potentially other cancers, Neoprobe has reinitiated development of RIGScan CR. Additional information about RIGScan CR can be found at www.neoprobe.com/RIGScan-CR.html.
About Neoprobe
Neoprobe Corporation (NYSE Amex: NEOP) is a biomedical company focused on development of precision diagnostics that enhance patient care and improve patient benefit. Neoprobe is actively developing and commercializing targeted agents aimed at the identification of occult (undetected) disease. The Company’s two lead radiopharmaceutical agent platforms – Lymphoseek® and RIGScan™ – are intended to help surgeons better identify and treat certain types of cancer. In achieving its goals, our business model leverages collaborations and partnerships with world-class institutions, manufacturing concerns and distribution entities. Neoprobe’s strategy is to deliver superior growth and stockholder return by bringing to market novel radiopharmaceutical agents and advancing the Company’s pipeline programs through continued investment and selective acquisition or in-licensing of complementary technologies. For more information, please visit www.neoprobe.com.
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the Act) provides a safe harbor for forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of the Company. Statements in this news release, which relate to other than strictly historical facts, such as statements about the Company’s plans and strategies, expectations for future financial performance, new and existing products and technologies, anticipated clinical and regulatory pathways, and markets for the Company’s products are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Act. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project,” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date hereof. Investors are cautioned that such statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical or anticipated results due to many factors including, but not limited to, the Company’s continuing operating losses, uncertainty of market acceptance of its products, reliance on third party manufacturers, accumulated deficit, future capital needs, uncertainty of capital funding, dependence on limited product line and distribution channels, competition, limited marketing and manufacturing experience, risks of development of new products, regulatory risks and other risks detailed in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other Securities and Exchange Commission filings. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.
Contact:
Neoprobe CorporationBrent Larson, 614-822-2330Sr. VP & CFOorInvestor Relations:LifeSci AdvisorsMichael Rice, 201-408-4923orPublic Relations/Media Relations:Makovsky & Co.Mark Marmur, 609-354-8135
