| EndoTAG-1™ Destroys Tumor Vessels |
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Tumor cells |
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Tumor releases signals inducing growth of blood vessels |
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Endothelial cells divide, blood vessels grows towards tumor |
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EndoTAG™ attacks activated endothelial cells and destroys blood vessel.Thereby the blood supply of the tumor is impaired |
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Attacking tumor blood vessels
EndoTAG™-1 is specifically aimed at those blood vessels that are needed for the growth of a tumor. The drug candidate is a novel combination of positively charged liposomes
– minute globules of fat molecules – and the dissolved therapeutic substance paclitaxel. Paclitaxel prevents cell division and is one of the most effective substances in
chemotherapy. EndoTAG™-1 attaches itself selectively to the negatively charged, dividing endothelial cells inside the newly developed tumor blood vessels. Inside blood vessels
in healthy tissue there are only very few dividing endothelial cells. For this reason, EndoTAG™-1 specifically attacks tumor blood vessels and inhibits the development of new
blood vessels at the same time. This process is intended to suppress further tumor growth. With its novel mode of action, EndoTAG™-1 adds an innovative variant to the successful
anti-angiogenesis approach (inhibition of vascularization). MediGene assumes that direct destruction of the endothelial cells does not lead to any resistance to the therapeutic
substance applied. This would solve a common problem inherent to existing chemotherapy. In addition, the EndoTAG™-1 concept is expected to provide a wide range of applications.
Principally, it could be suited for the treatment of all types of solid tumors which have their own vascularization.
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EndoTAG™-1 is MediGene’s first product candidate derived from the EndoTAG™ platform technology. The
European Commission identified EndoTAG™-1 as a drug for the treatment of rare diseases (Orphan Drug Designation) in the indication pancreatic cancer. This status ensures EU market
exclusivity for the drug for a period of ten years following marketing authorization, in addition to the existing patent protection. In 2008, MediGene reported positive results for this drug
candidate obtained in a controlled phase II clinical study in the indication pancreatic cancer. According to this, survival time and survival rates improved signifi cantly for those patients
treated with EndoTAG™-1 in combination with gemcitabine. In mid-2010, MediGene published the results of a clinical phase II study using EndoTAG™-1 for the treatment of triple
negative breast cancer. The extensive data analyses of the three-arm trial confirms a positive efficacy trend of EndoTAG™-1 in combination with paclitaxel for the treatment of this
difficult to treat type of cancer.
Outlook
In view of the positive results of the two phase II studies in the indications pancreatic cancer and triple negative breast cancer, MediGene expects to conclude a partnership for the further
development of this product.
EndoTAG™ is a trademark of MediGene AG
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