Micromet today announced the initiation of the first clinical trial for the anti-granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) human antibody MT203 by its collaboration partner Nycomed
BETHESDA, MD, USA | June 18, 2009 | Micromet, Inc. (NASDAQ: MITI) , a biopharmaceutical company developing novel, proprietary antibodies for the treatment of cancer, inflammation and autoimmune diseases, today announced the initiation of the first clinical trial for the anti-granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) human antibody MT203 by its collaboration partner Nycomed.
The double-blind, randomized, placebo controlled study will investigate the safety and pharmacokinetics of MT203.
GM-CSF has been shown to play a significant role in various autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Under a 2007 agreement between Micromet and Nycomed, the two companies are jointly developing MT203. Micromet has been primarily responsible for the non-clinical development of MT203, whereas Nycomed will be responsible for the clinical development and commercialization of MT203 going forward.
"The initiation of the first clinical trial represents a major milestone for MT203," comments Christian Itin, President and CEO of Micromet. "Our partner Nycomed is well positioned to pursue the clinical development of MT203 in the field of severe inflammatory and autoimmune diseases."
"We are very pleased with the progress in our collaboration with Micromet," comments Anders Ulman, Executive Vice President Research and Development of Nycomed. "We are looking forward to the results of this first trial as a key milestone in our clinical development program."
About Micromet, Inc.
Micromet, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company developing novel, proprietary antibodies for the treatment of cancer, inflammation and autoimmune diseases. Its product development pipeline includes novel antibodies generated with its proprietary BiTE(R) antibody platform, as well as conventional monoclonal antibodies. BiTE antibodies represent a new class of antibodies that activate the T cells of a patient’s immune system to eliminate cancer cells. Five of Micromet’s antibodies are currently in clinical trials. Its BiTE antibody blinatumomab (MT103) is in a phase 2 clinical trial for the treatment of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and in a phase 1 clinical trial for the treatment of patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). A second BiTE antibody, MT110, is in a phase 1 clinical trial for the treatment of patients with solid tumors. MT110 binds to the epithelial cell adhesion molecule, or EpCAM, which is overexpressed in many solid tumors. Micromet’s human monoclonal antibody adecatumumab (MT201) also binds to EpCAM and is being developed under a collaboration with Merck Serono. Adecatumomab is in a phase 2 clinical trial in colorectal carcinoma patients after complete resection of liver metastases, and a phase 1b clinical trial evaluating adecatumumab in combination with docetaxel for the treatment of patients with metastatic breast cancer. Micromet’s monoclonal antibody MT293, also known as TRC093, is licensed to TRACON Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and is in a phase 1 clinical trial for the treatment of patients with cancer. MT203, a human antibody neutralizing the activity of granulocyte/macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), which has potential applications in the treatment of various inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, or multiple sclerosis, is in a phase 1 clinical trial conducted by Micromet’s collaboration partner Nycomed. Micromet’s licensee Morphotek, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eisai, is also expected to initiate a first phase 1 clinical trial with Micromet’s glycolipid-binding human antibody MT228 for the treatment of melanoma.
Micromet’s preclinical product pipeline includes several novel BiTE antibodies generated with its proprietary BiTE antibody platform technology. A BiTE antibody targeting CEA for the treatment of solid tumors is being developed in collaboration with MedImmune. In addition, Micromet has entered into an option, collaboration and license agreement with Bayer Schering Pharma AG under which Bayer Schering Pharma was granted an exclusive option to license a specified BiTE antibody against an undisclosed solid tumor target. Other BiTE antibodies targeting MSCP, CD33, HER2, EGFR and other targets are in various stages of preclinical development.
SOURCE: Micromet, Inc.
Post Views: 49
Micromet today announced the initiation of the first clinical trial for the anti-granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) human antibody MT203 by its collaboration partner Nycomed
BETHESDA, MD, USA | June 18, 2009 | Micromet, Inc. (NASDAQ: MITI) , a biopharmaceutical company developing novel, proprietary antibodies for the treatment of cancer, inflammation and autoimmune diseases, today announced the initiation of the first clinical trial for the anti-granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) human antibody MT203 by its collaboration partner Nycomed.
The double-blind, randomized, placebo controlled study will investigate the safety and pharmacokinetics of MT203.
GM-CSF has been shown to play a significant role in various autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Under a 2007 agreement between Micromet and Nycomed, the two companies are jointly developing MT203. Micromet has been primarily responsible for the non-clinical development of MT203, whereas Nycomed will be responsible for the clinical development and commercialization of MT203 going forward.
"The initiation of the first clinical trial represents a major milestone for MT203," comments Christian Itin, President and CEO of Micromet. "Our partner Nycomed is well positioned to pursue the clinical development of MT203 in the field of severe inflammatory and autoimmune diseases."
"We are very pleased with the progress in our collaboration with Micromet," comments Anders Ulman, Executive Vice President Research and Development of Nycomed. "We are looking forward to the results of this first trial as a key milestone in our clinical development program."
About Micromet, Inc.
Micromet, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company developing novel, proprietary antibodies for the treatment of cancer, inflammation and autoimmune diseases. Its product development pipeline includes novel antibodies generated with its proprietary BiTE(R) antibody platform, as well as conventional monoclonal antibodies. BiTE antibodies represent a new class of antibodies that activate the T cells of a patient’s immune system to eliminate cancer cells. Five of Micromet’s antibodies are currently in clinical trials. Its BiTE antibody blinatumomab (MT103) is in a phase 2 clinical trial for the treatment of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and in a phase 1 clinical trial for the treatment of patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). A second BiTE antibody, MT110, is in a phase 1 clinical trial for the treatment of patients with solid tumors. MT110 binds to the epithelial cell adhesion molecule, or EpCAM, which is overexpressed in many solid tumors. Micromet’s human monoclonal antibody adecatumumab (MT201) also binds to EpCAM and is being developed under a collaboration with Merck Serono. Adecatumomab is in a phase 2 clinical trial in colorectal carcinoma patients after complete resection of liver metastases, and a phase 1b clinical trial evaluating adecatumumab in combination with docetaxel for the treatment of patients with metastatic breast cancer. Micromet’s monoclonal antibody MT293, also known as TRC093, is licensed to TRACON Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and is in a phase 1 clinical trial for the treatment of patients with cancer. MT203, a human antibody neutralizing the activity of granulocyte/macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), which has potential applications in the treatment of various inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, or multiple sclerosis, is in a phase 1 clinical trial conducted by Micromet’s collaboration partner Nycomed. Micromet’s licensee Morphotek, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eisai, is also expected to initiate a first phase 1 clinical trial with Micromet’s glycolipid-binding human antibody MT228 for the treatment of melanoma.
Micromet’s preclinical product pipeline includes several novel BiTE antibodies generated with its proprietary BiTE antibody platform technology. A BiTE antibody targeting CEA for the treatment of solid tumors is being developed in collaboration with MedImmune. In addition, Micromet has entered into an option, collaboration and license agreement with Bayer Schering Pharma AG under which Bayer Schering Pharma was granted an exclusive option to license a specified BiTE antibody against an undisclosed solid tumor target. Other BiTE antibodies targeting MSCP, CD33, HER2, EGFR and other targets are in various stages of preclinical development.
SOURCE: Micromet, Inc.
Post Views: 49
