Presented at the International Gynecological Cancer Society (IGCS) in Santa Monica in October, Antisoma reported positive tumor response data in a phase II ovarian cancer trial. With AS1404 plus chemotherapyterm a response rate of 75% was achieved compared with 63% response on chemotherapy alone. Standard chemotherapy was carboplatin and paclitaxel.

     Further data is still being collected for time of progression, but safety and improvements in median survival is said to be similar to that found in the lung cancer trial with AS1404.

    Presented at the EORTC-NCI-AARC (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer; National Cancer Institute; American Association for Respiratory Care) meeting in Prague in November, patients on Antisoma’s drug AS1404 in combination with standard chemotherapyterm had a median survival of 14.0 months versus 8.8 months on standard chemo alone. Standard chemotherapy was carboplatin and paclitaxel.

     AS1404 also reduced the risk of death by 27%. Median and mean time to tumor progression increased (5.4 vs 4.4 months and 6.3 vs 5.1 months respectively) with AS1404 combination versus chemotherapy alone. Tumor response rate was 31% versus 22% comparing AS1404 combination and standard chemo alone. Safety findings for the two treatments were similar with no significant increase in adverse events with AS1404. A phase III trial is developing and will start when licensing deals are met.

    Antisoma, a London based company, announced at the ASCO Prostate Cancer Symposium positive phase II trial interim results in hormone-refractory prostate cancer patients in a combination treatment with AS1404. The results showed that PSA response rates were higher in the AS1404-docetaxel combination (57%) than with docetaxel alone (35%). Time to tumor progression and survival data will be reported later in the year, but current data shows that the frequency of PSA progression was halved in the AS1404-docetaxel combination versus docetaxel alone (17% versus 29%). Safety statistics indicate no significant increase in side-effects from AS1404.