Biotec Pharmacon reports on neuroblastoma study
Biotec Pharmacon ASA is announcing the final results from an early phase (I/II) study on combining Soluble Beta-Glucan (SBG) with anti-cancer antibodies in treatment of neuroblastoma in children. The study, performed at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, showed that the combined treatment with SBG and 3F8 antibodies was well tolerated and the combined treatment gave promising activity against resistant neuroblastoma. Improvement was demonstrated in 14 of 30 patients showing metastasis to the skeleton, whereof 6 of 15 patients showed complete remission of neuroblastoma in bone marrow.
"Neuroblastoma is a very serious form of cancer in infants and young children, with high mortality rates. Given the progressed stage of disease (high-risk stage 4) in the children in the study and the limitations of alternative treatment regimes, we consider these results promising," says CEO Svein Lien in Biotec Pharmacon ASA.
The patients included in the study had high-risk metastatic neuroblastoma and a history of recurrent or refractory disease. Patients that are more than one year old, as in this study (>18 months of age), having disseminated disease (described as "stage 4" in the International Neuroblastoma Staging System Criteria) have very poor prognosis. In the present study only patients with a history of heavy pre-treatment and recurrent or refractory stage 4 neuroblastoma were included.
"We are glad to see confirmation of the positive effects of SBG within the cancer immunotherapy area, and have in co-operation with Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center secured a very broad and worldwide patent platform protecting this combined treatment," says Lien.
When the current study was initiated, Biotec Pharmacon agreed to support a follow up phase II study at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC). However, the company will not immediately move onto the next clinical phase.
"Based on the experience from our earlier clinical studies with SBG, we need to secure a correct formulation of the product before entering into new clinical studies. This work is currently ongoing." says Lien.
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