SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., June 4, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Five Prime Therapeutics, Inc. (FivePrime), a leader in the discovery and development of innovative biologics, announced today that Human Genome Sciences (HGS) has submitted an Investigational New Drug (IND) application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to initiate a Phase 1b human clinical trial of HGS1036/FP-1039 in combination with multiple anti-cancer regimens.
HGS1036/FP-1039 is a first-in-class ligand trap that binds to and inhibits most members of the FGF (Fibroblast Growth Factor) family. FGF proteins are growth factors that, along with VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) and EGF (Epidermal Growth Factor), play important roles in the growth and maintenance of many solid tumors. HGS1036/FP-1039 is a soluble fusion protein consisting of the extracellular portion of Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 1 (FGFR1) that is attached to the base of a human antibody. The drug is designed to neutralize the activity of multiple FGF ligands and inhibit their signaling through all FGF receptors. Data indicate that HGS1036/FP-1039 is a very effective and safe inhibitor of the complex and crucial FGF signaling pathway. HGS1036/FP-1039 is expected to exert a dual effect on cancer cells both as a result of direct inhibition of tumor cell growth and through inhibition of tumor-associated angiogenesis — both of which are FGF-mediated processes.
"We are very excited to see Human Genome Sciences take this crucial step in the development of HGS1036/FP-1039," said Dr. Michael Kavanaugh, Senior Vice President, Research and Development. "It represents a key milestone for our lead product, which we believe has the potential to help patients with multiple types of cancers. We look forward to working closely with HGS to advance this product through the clinic."
About FivePrime
Five Prime Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage, privately held, biotechnology company discovering and developing innovative antibody and protein therapeutics. Using its integrated discovery platform, FivePrime is building a strong pipeline of oncology and immunology drug candidates. FivePrime mines its comprehensive library of secreted and extracellular human proteins to screen for medically relevant new therapeutic proteins and antibody targets. FivePrime has entered into a collaboration agreement to develop and commercialize its lead product, FP-1039, with Human Genome Sciences, Inc. in the United States, Canada and the EU. FivePrime has also established significant collaborations for the discovery of innovative biologics in specific therapeutic areas with several leading pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer, Centocor and GlaxoSmithKline. For more information about FivePrime, please visit FivePrime's web site at www.fiveprime.com.
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