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: theALPINEtrial 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).
Date and time: Friday, January 16, 2015; 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm PST
Session: General Poster Session B
Presenting Author: Dr. Eileen M. O’Reilly, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
The poster will include final safety and efficacy data from OncoMed’s Phase 1b clinical study of tarextumab in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. New data on the use of Notch3 gene expression as a predictive biomarker for response to tarextumab will also be presented. OncoMed’s Notch3 predictive biomarker assay is being utilized to test baseline patient tumors retrospectively for Notch3, one of the targets of tarextumab. Tumors from patients enrolled in the Phase 2 studies of tarextumab are being tested for Notch3 status and the result will be correlated with response to tarextumab treatment.
About Tarextumab (anti-Notch2/3, OMP-59R5)
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.
About OncoMed Pharmaceuticals
OncoMed Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage company focused on discovering and developing novel therapeutics targeting cancer stem cells (CSCs). OncoMed has six anti-cancer product candidates in clinical development, including demcizumab (anti-DLL4, OMP-21M18), tarextumab (anti-Notch2/3, OMP-59R5), anti-Notch1 (OMP-52M51), anti-DLL4/VEGF bispecific antibody (OMP-305B83), vantictumab (anti-FZD7, OMP-18R5), and ipafricept (FZD8-Fc, OMP-54F28), which each target key cancer stem cell signaling pathways including Notch and Wnt. OncoMed plans to file an Investigational New Drug application in early 2015 for anti-RSPO3 (OMP-131R10), an antibody targeting a third key cancer stem cell signalling pathway called R-spondin-LGR. OncoMed is also pursuing discovery of additional novel anti-CSC and cancer immunotherapy product candidates. OncoMed has formed strategic alliances with Celgene Corporation, Bayer Pharma AG and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). Additional information can be found at the company’s website: www.oncomed.com.
CONTACT: Media & Investors OncoMed Pharmaceuticals Michelle Corral Investor Relations and Corporate Communications michelle.corral@oncomed.com (650) 995-8373 Investors Shari Annes Annes Associates shari.annes@oncomed.com (650) 888-0902
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