BTG: Study Shows Abiraterone Can Successfully Treat Aggressive, Chemotherapy-Resistant Prostate Cancer
BTG plc notes the publication of a new study in the Journal of Clinical oncology showing that abiraterone caused significant tumour shrinkage and reduction in prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels in 70-80% of men with advanced, chemotherapy-resistant prostate cancer.
BTG acquired abiraterone from the Institute of Cancer Research and, having funded its early development and secured the intellectual property position, subsequently licensed it to Cougar Biotechnology, Inc. Earlier this year, Cougar commenced a 1200-patient phase III trial with abiraterone, also known as CB7630, in men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer who have failed standard chemotherapy.
In this latest study, conducted by the Institute of Cancer Research and the Royal Marsden Hospital, patients were followed for two-and-a-half years and most had stable disease throughout the period with few side effects. It follows a number of other phase I and phase II studies supporting the role of abiraterone as an important new potential treatment option for aggressive prostate cancer.
Louise Makin, BTG's chief executive officer, commented: "We are delighted that abiraterone continues to show excellent potential as a new treatment for these resistant forms of prostate cancer, which represent a significant unmet need."
BTG will receive milestone payments and royalties on sales of CB7630 if it is successfully developed and approved for sale.
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