Thursday, September 11, 2008

CuraGen set to begin Phase 2 melanoma treatment trial

By Mass High Tech Staff

Oncology-based biotech CuraGen Corp. announced it had completed enrolling patients into a Phase 2 trial testing its antibody-drug conjugate CR011-vcMMAE for the treatment of metastatic melanoma. The milestone was achieved ahead of schedule, the company stated.

The open-label, multi-center trial enrolled 36 patients and is set up to test the drug, administered intravenously once every three weeks, in patients with inoperable Stage III or Stage IV melanoma. The company stated that final results will be released during the first half of 2009.

CuraGen (Nasdaq: CRGN) also stated that results from an earlier Phase 1/2 trial will be presented during the 23rd Annual Meeting of the International Society for Biological Therapy of Cancer (iSBTc) in San Diego, Calif.

CR011-vcMMAE is a fully-human monoclonal antibody destabilizing agent. It targets the glycoprotein NMB (GPNMB), a protein that is often found in greater quantities in melanoma, breast cancer and brain tumors.

The Branford, Conn.-based firm running a Phase 1 optimal dosing study looking at a weekly schedule and a two-out-of-three week schedule of the CR011-vcMMAE.

CuraGen, which employs 33 workers, reported 2007 net income of $25.4 million on revenue of $90,000. Last year the company sold its genetic sequencing subsidiary, 454 Life Sciences, to Swiss life sciences giant Roche Holding AG in a deal worth up to $155 million.