REDWOOD CITY, Calif., April 21, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OncoMed Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:OMED) will present new data related to its clinical and preclinical anti-cancer stem cell and immuno-oncology candidates at the upcoming American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2015 Annual Meeting.
OncoMed will present new clinical data from clinical trials of its lead anti-cancer stem cell therapeutics, demcizumab and tarextumab. Final data from OncoMed's Phase 1b clinical trial of tarextumab (anti-Notch2/3, OMP-59R5) in small cell lung cancer will be presented by Dr. M. Catherine Pietanza, MD, of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center during a poster discussion session. New data from the company's Phase 1b clinical trials of demcizumab (OMP-21M18, anti-DLL4) in pancreatic cancer and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) will be presented in posters during the meeting. The list of abstracts and timing of the presentations is provided below.
| Poster Discussion | |
| Monday, June 1, 2015 from 1:15 pm – 2:30 pm | |
| Abstract #7508: Final results of phase 1b of tarextumab (TRXT, OMP-59R5, anti-Notch2/3) in combination with etoposide and platinum (EP) in patients (pts) with untreated extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ED-SCLC). | |
| Lead author: Dr. M. Catherine Pietanza, MD, of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center | |
| Session: Lung Cancer—Non-Small Cell Local-Regional/Small Cell/Other Thoracic Cancers | |
| Location: E hall D2 | |
| Poster Display Information: Monday, June 1, 2015 from 8:00 am – 11:30 am | |
| Location: S Hall A | |
| Posters | |
| Monday, June 1, 2015 from 8:00 am – 11:30am | |
| Abstract #4118: A Phase 1b study of the anti-cancer stem cell agent demcizumab (DEM) & gemcitabine (GEM) +/- paclitaxel protein bound particles (nab-paclitaxel) in patients with pancreatic cancer. | |
| Lead author: Manuel Hidalgo, MD, PhD, Director of the Centro Integral Oncológico Clara Campal (CIOCC), START Madrid | |
| Session: Gastrointestinal (Noncolorectal) Cancer | |
| Location: S Hall A | |
| Monday, June 1, 2015 from 8:00 am – 11:30am | |
| Abstract #8045: A Phase 1b study of the anti-cancer stem cell agent demcizumab (DEM), pemetrexed (PEM) & carboplatin (CARBO) in patients with 1st line non-squamous NSCLC. | |
| Lead author: Dusan Kotasek MBBS, FRACP, Adelaide Cancer Centre | |
| Session: Lung Cancer—Non-Small Cell Metastatic | |
| Location: S Hall A | |
About Cancer Stem Cells
Cancer stem cells, or CSCs, are the subpopulation of cells in a tumor responsible for driving growth and metastasis of the tumor. CSCs, also known as tumor-initiating cells, exhibit certain properties which include the capacity to divide and give rise to new CSCs via a process called self-renewal and the capacity to differentiate or change into the other cells that form the bulk of the tumor. Common cancer drugs target bulk tumor cells but have limited impact on CSCs, thereby providing a path for recurrence of the tumor. OncoMed's product candidates target CSCs by blocking self-renewal and driving differentiation of CSCs toward a non-tumorigenic state, and also impact bulk tumor cells. OncoMed believes its product candidates are distinct from the current generations of chemotherapies and targeted therapies, and have the potential to significantly impact cancer treatment and the clinical outcome of patients with cancer.
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, the most advanced of which are in randomized Phase 2 clinical trials. Demcizumab (anti-DLL4, OMP-21M18), tarextumab (anti-Notch2/3, OMP-59R5), brontictuzumab (anti-Notch1, OMP-52M51), anti-DLL4/VEGF bispecific antibody (OMP-305B83), vantictumab (anti-FZD7, OMP-18R5), and ipafricept (FZD8-Fc, OMP-54F28) each target key cancer stem cell signaling pathways including Notch and Wnt. OncoMed recently filed an Investigational New Drug application for anti-RSPO3 (OMP-131R10), an antibody targeting a third key cancer stem cell signaling pathway called R-spondin-LGR. OncoMed is also pursuing discovery of additional novel anti-CSC and cancer immuno-oncology 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.