Alfacell Updates Progress on Clinical Development Program for ONCONASE® in Malignant Mesothelioma
Thursday, August 31st, 2006.
Alfacell Corporation (Nasdaq: ACEL – News) announced today an update regarding the ongoing randomized, multi-center, multi-national, confirmatory Phase IIIb registration study for its lead anti-cancer drug, ONCONASE® (ranpirnase). This pivotal trial is evaluating the effectiveness of ONCONASE plus doxorubicin in improving the survival of patients with unresectable malignant mesothelioma (UMM) over doxorubicin alone.
The Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Kuslima Shogen, commented, “As a result of our recently completed financing we are in a strong position to further accelerate our clinical and regulatory strategy for ONCONASE. To date, we have accrued more than 360 patients, and are awaiting the 316 events required to trigger the final analysis. We look forward to completing the study and to adhering closely to our desired critical path, which centers on positive results from the final analysis leading to the filing of an NDA.”
Shogen stated, “ONCONASE has previously been granted Fast Track status by the FDA for UMM, which allows us the opportunity to submit sections of an NDA as they are prepared. As such, we are continuing to finalize components of the Chemistry Manufacturing and Controls (CMC) section, which we plan to submit by end of third quarter 2006.”
Shogen concluded, “Overall, we are pleased with the consistent progress the Company has made in the ONCONASE UMM clinical program, and that we remain on track with our previously stated timelines. We look forward to providing future updates on our progress toward marketing approval, as well as ongoing and new ONCONASE trials in major cancers.”
About ONCONASE®
ONCONASE is a first-in-class therapeutic from Alfacell’s proprietary ribonuclease (RNase) technology platform. ONCONASE has been shown to target tumor cells while sparing normal cells. ONCONASE is internalized by endocytosis and released into the cytosol of the cancerous cell, where it selectively degrades tRNA beyond repair. In doing so, ONCONASE inhibits protein synthesis, stops cell cycle proliferation, and induces apoptosis (programmed cell death).
ONCONASE has previously been granted Orphan Drug designation from EMEA and TGA (Australia), as well as Fast Track status by the FDA. The Company is also conducting an ONCONASE Phase I / II trial in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC).
About Alfacell Corporation
Alfacell Corporation is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel therapeutics for cancer and other life-threatening diseases, using its proprietary ribonuclease (RNase) technology platform. For more information, please visit http://www.Alfacell.com.
« Mesothelioma News Main Page.
Most Recent in
Alfacell
- 10/10/08 - Paper in Cell Cycle Reports Alfacell’s ONCONASE® Targets siRNA
- 05/29/08 - Alfacell: Malignant mesothelioma treatment trial fails to meet primary endpoint
- 04/02/08 - Alfacell Updates Status of ONCONASE(R) Phase III Clinical Program
- 01/18/08 - Alfacell Announces ONCONASE(R) Purchase and Supply Agreement with Scientific Protein Laboratories
- 01/15/08 - Strativa Pharmaceuticals Acquires Commercialization Rights to Onconase(R) from Alfacell Corporation
Most Recent in
Drug Companies
- 08/03/12 - MolMed: NGR-hTNF: increased recruitment rate – with completion foreseen by the end of the year – in the Phase III mesothelioma trial, and new European patent granted
- 07/18/12 - Bayer HealthCare receives Orphan Drug Designation for its Anti-Cancer Agent in the U.S. for the Treatment of Mesothelioma
- 10/12/10 - Raltitrexed (Tomudex®) in Combination With Cisplatin in the Treatment of MPM Improves Overall Survival Compared to Treatment With Cisplatin Alone
- 04/20/10 - MolMed starts Phase III trial of NGR-hTNF in mesothelioma
- 04/13/10 - microRNAs Shown To Have Powerful Potential as Diagnostic and Prognostic Markers In A Variety Of Cancer Indications
Most Recent in
Novel Treatments & Drugs
- 08/30/12 - Asbestos Update: Nanofibres, Drugstore Cowboy, Non-lung Asbestos Cancers
- 08/03/12 - MolMed: NGR-hTNF: increased recruitment rate – with completion foreseen by the end of the year – in the Phase III mesothelioma trial, and new European patent granted
- 07/18/12 - Bayer HealthCare receives Orphan Drug Designation for its Anti-Cancer Agent in the U.S. for the Treatment of Mesothelioma
- 10/12/10 - Raltitrexed (Tomudex®) in Combination With Cisplatin in the Treatment of MPM Improves Overall Survival Compared to Treatment With Cisplatin Alone
- 04/20/10 - MolMed starts Phase III trial of NGR-hTNF in mesothelioma
Most Recent in
Onconase (ranpirnase)
- 10/10/08 - Paper in Cell Cycle Reports Alfacell’s ONCONASE® Targets siRNA
- 05/29/08 - Alfacell: Malignant mesothelioma treatment trial fails to meet primary endpoint
- 04/02/08 - Alfacell Updates Status of ONCONASE(R) Phase III Clinical Program
- 01/18/08 - Alfacell Announces ONCONASE(R) Purchase and Supply Agreement with Scientific Protein Laboratories
- 01/15/08 - Strativa Pharmaceuticals Acquires Commercialization Rights to Onconase(R) from Alfacell Corporation
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
