New Australian drug shows positive response in patients with multiple myeloma blood cancer

20-Jun-2011 - Australia

Immune System Therapeutics Limited (IST) announced it would double patient recruitment in its Phase II trial for a breakthrough antibody treatment for terminal blood cancer.

The trial expansion in Australia follows a positive review of safety and efficacy data by an independent Data Monitoring Committee (DMC) of data from the first six patients treated with the new monoclonal antibody therapy at The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne under the supervision of principal investigator and head of Malignant Haematology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Professor Andrew Spencer.

The DMC recommended that recruitment under the trial be expanded to include up to 27 patients suffering from the life threatening disease multiple myeloma.

The promising new drug, called MDX-1097, is a genetically engineered antibody that binds specifically to a target protein found on the cell surface of some types of blood cancer. Researchers anticipate the antibody will potentially reduce the number of cancerous cells in multiple myeloma patients and improve patient health and wellbeing. Laboratory studies have shown that the antibody works with the patient’s immune system to induce death of their multiple myeloma cancer cells.

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Topic world Antibodies

Antibodies are specialized molecules of our immune system that can specifically recognize and neutralize pathogens or foreign substances. Antibody research in biotech and pharma has recognized this natural defense potential and is working intensively to make it therapeutically useful. From monoclonal antibodies used against cancer or autoimmune diseases to antibody-drug conjugates that specifically transport drugs to disease cells - the possibilities are enormous

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Topic world Antibodies

Antibodies are specialized molecules of our immune system that can specifically recognize and neutralize pathogens or foreign substances. Antibody research in biotech and pharma has recognized this natural defense potential and is working intensively to make it therapeutically useful. From monoclonal antibodies used against cancer or autoimmune diseases to antibody-drug conjugates that specifically transport drugs to disease cells - the possibilities are enormous