WALTHAM, Mass., May 21, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OXiGENE, Inc. (Nasdaq:OXGN)
(XSSE:OXGN), a clinical-stage, biopharmaceutical company developing novel
therapeutics to treat cancer and eye diseases, announced today that results
from a Phase 2 clinical trial of its vascular disrupting agent (VDA) product
candidate, ZYBRESTAT (fosbretabulin), in women with platinum-resistant ovarian
cancer, will be presented in a symposium at the upcoming 2009 Annual Meeting of
the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Orlando, FL, June 1, 2009.
In addition, an abstract describing clinical results from an ongoing Phase 1
trial in solid tumors of OXi4503, the Company's second-generation,
dual-mechanism drug candidate, is published in the ASCO meeting program.
OXiGENE will release a summary of presented results on June 1, 2009.
ZYBRESTAT Presentation Details:
Abstract #5502
Session: New Advances in Gynecologic Cancers
Title: Combretastatin A-4 phosphate (CA4P) carboplatin and
paclitaxel in patients with platinum-resistant
ovarian cancer: Final phase II trial results
Authors: M.Zweifel, G. Jayson, N. Reed, R. Osborne, B. Hassan,
G. Shreeves, L. Poupard, P. Walicke, J. Balkissoon,
D. Chaplin, G. Rustin
Time: Monday, June 1, 2009, 9:45-11:15 am
Room: Level 3, Chapin Theater, W 320, Orange County
Convention Center
OXi4503 Abstract Published Online in the ASCO Annual Meeting Program:
Abstract # e14510: A PET imaging study of the vascular disruptive
agent OXi4503 to confirm in vivo mechanism of action in a phase I
trial. P. M. Price, M. Asselin, B. Koetz, C. Dickinson, N.
Charnley, P. Lorigan, J. Valle, M. Stratford, G. Rustin, A. Saleem;
Academic Radiation Oncology, University of Manchester, Manchester,
United Kingdom; Wolfson Molecular Imaging Centre, University of
Manchester, United Kingdom; Medical Oncology, The Christie NHS
Foundation Trust, United Kingdom; Gray Institute, University of
Oxford, United Kingdom; Mount Vernon Hospital, London, United
Kingdom
About ZYBRESTAT
ZYBRESTAT (fosbretabulin) is currently being evaluated in a pivotal
registration study as a potential treatment for anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC)
under a Special Protocol Assessment agreement with the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA). Phase 2 studies in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer and
non-small cell lung cancer are also ongoing. OXiGENE believes that ZYBRESTAT is
poised to become the first therapeutic product in a novel class of
small-molecule drug candidates called vascular disrupting agents (VDAs).
Through interaction with vascular endothelial cell cytoskeletal proteins,
ZYBRESTAT selectively targets and collapses tumor vasculature, thereby
depriving the tumor of oxygen and causing death of tumor cells. In clinical
studies in solid tumors, ZYBRESTAT has demonstrated potent and selective
activity against tumor vasculature, as well as clinical activity against ATC,
ovarian cancer, and various other solid tumors. In clinical studies in patients
with forms of macular degeneration, intravenously-administered ZYBRESTAT has
demonstrated clinical activity, and the Company is working to develop a
convenient and patient-friendly topical formulation of ZYBRESTAT for
ophthalmological indications.
About OXi4503
OXi4503 (combretastatin A1 di-phosphate / CA1P) is a dual-mechanism VDA that is
being developed in clinical studies for the treatment of solid and liquid
tumors. Like its structural analog, ZYBRESTAT(TM) (fosbretabulin / CA4P),
OXi4503 has been observed to block and destroy tumor vasculature, resulting in
tumor cell death and necrosis. In addition, preclinical data indicates that
OXi4503 is metabolized by oxidative enzymes (e.g., tyrosinase and peroxidases),
which are elevated in many solid tumors and tumor white blood cell infiltrates,
to an orthoquinone chemical species that has direct cytotoxic effects on tumor
cells. Preclinical studies have shown that OXi4503 has (i) single-agent
activity against a range of xenograft tumor models; and (ii) synergistic or
additive effects when incorporated in various combination regimens with
chemotherapy, molecularly-targeted therapies (including tumor-angiogenesis
inhibitors), and radiation therapy. OXi4503 is currently being evaluated as a
monotherapy in a Phase 1 dose-escalation clinical trial in patients with
advanced solid tumors tumors and a Phase 1b/2a study in patients with solid
cancers with hepatic involvement.
About OXiGENE
OXiGENE is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel
therapeutics to treat cancer and eye diseases. The company's major focus is
developing VDAs that selectively disrupt abnormal blood vessels associated with
solid tumor progression and visual impairment. OXiGENE is dedicated to
leveraging its intellectual property and therapeutic development expertise to
bring life-extending and -enhancing medicines to patients.
The OXiGENE, Inc. logo is available at
http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=4969
Safe Harbor Statement
This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any or all of the
forward-looking statements in this press release may turn out to be wrong.
Forward-looking statements can be affected by inaccurate assumptions OXiGENE
might make or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties, including, but not
limited to, enrollment rate for patients in the ZYBRESTAT pivotal trial for
anaplastic thyroid cancer, interim analysis of the same, timing of the IND
filing and Phase I trial initiation for topical ZYBRESTAT, timing of a Phase II
clinical trial of ZYBRESTAT and bevacizumab in NSCLC, timing or execution of a
strategic collaboration on any product or indication, and cash utilization
rates for 2008. Additional information concerning factors that could cause
actual results to materially differ from those in the forward-looking
statements is contained in OXiGENE's reports to the Securities and Exchange
Commission, including OXiGENE's reports on Form 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. However,
OXiGENE undertakes no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements,
whether because of new information, future events or otherwise. Please refer to
our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008.
CONTACT: OXiGENE
Investor Relations
Michelle Edwards
650-635-7006
medwards@oxigene.com
OXiGENE Announces Clinical Data to be Presented At the 2009 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology
| Source: Oxigene, Inc.