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Human Genome Sciences initiates randomized Phase 2 clinical trial of HGS-ETR1 in combination with Bortezomib

24 Jul 2006 - Human Genome Sciences, Inc. has initiated dosing of patients in a randomized Phase 2 clinical trial of HGS-ETR1 (mapatumumab) in combination with bortezomib (VELCADE®) in advanced multiple myeloma.
 
"Among patients with cancers of the blood and bone marrow, those with multiple myeloma have the lowest five-year survival rate," said David C. Stump, M.D., Executive Vice President, Drug Development, Human Genome Sciences. "Clinical and preclinical evidence continues to emerge suggesting that agonistic antibodies to TRAIL receptors 1 and 2 have significant potential to provide novel therapeutic options to patients with multiple myeloma and a variety of other cancer types."
 
"Bortezomib, a proteosome inhibitor, is indicated for use in multiple myeloma patients who have received at least one prior therapy, and has produced partial or complete responses in approximately 50% of these patients in Phase 2 and 3 clinical trials." said Stefano Tarantolo, M.D., study investigator and medical oncologist, Nebraska Methodist Cancer Center , Omaha . "The results of preclinical studies demonstrate that HGS-ETR1 enhances the tumor-killing activity of bortezomib. These data, along with emerging clinical results, support the evaluation of HGS-ETR1 in combination with bortezomib in a Phase 2 study in patients with relapsed or recurrent multiple myeloma. We look forward to determining whether this combination has the potential to play a role in the treatment of multiple myeloma."
 
HGS-ETR1 is an agonistic human monoclonal antibody that specifically binds to the TRAIL receptor-1 protein and triggers programmed cell death, or apoptosis, in cancer cells. HGS-ETR1 does this by mimicking the activity of the natural protein TRAIL (tumor necrosis factor apoptosis-inducing ligand). Human Genome Sciences' own studies, as well as those of others, show that TRAIL receptor 1 is expressed on a number of solid tumors and tumors of hematopoietic origin. It has been demonstrated that cell lines derived from a broad array of solid and hematologic human tumors, including lung, colon, breast, multiple myeloma, prostate, pancreas, and lymphoid, are sensitive to killing by apoptosis induced by either native TRAIL or agonistic antibodies to TRAIL receptors 1 and 2.