YM BioSciences reports Nimotuzumab approved for marketing in Mexico

YM enrolls first patients in multinational randomized, double-blind brain metastases trial

18-Sep-2009 - Mexico

YM BioSciences Inc. reported that nimotuzumab has been approved for marketing in Mexico. YM BioSciences also announced that it has enrolled the first two patients in its randomized, double-blind trial evaluating nimotuzumab in patients with brain metastases from non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Nimotuzumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that targets the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), licensed to YM’s majority-owned subsidiary, CIMYM BioSciences Inc., by CIMAB S.A., and developed at the Center of Molecular Immunology inCuba. Nimotuzumab is approved in two of the countries in YM’s territories. The drug has demonstrated efficacy in clinical trials without producing the numerous and severe toxicities observed with the other marketed EGFR-targeting drugs. Mexican regulatory authorities have approved nimotuzumab for the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN), adult glioma and pediatric glioma. The approval was granted to Laboratorios PiSA in Guadalajara, Mexico and nimotuzumab will be commercialized under the name VECTHIX®.

YM BioSciences recently enrolled and treated the first two patients in its multinational randomized, double-blind trial evaluating nimotuzumab plus whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT) to WBRT alone in patients with brain metastases from NSCLC. The trial is designed enroll approximately 88 patients over twelve months followed by a twelve-month follow-up period and will likely include 12 investigational centers in Canada plus additional centers in other countries. The patients were enrolled at the L'Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont in Montreal, Canada.

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