22nd Jul 2008 12:28
BTG plc: Study Shows Abiraterone Can Successfully Treat Aggressive, Chemotherapy-Resistant Prostate Cancer
London, UK, 22 July 2008: BTG plc (LSE: BGC), the life sciences company, 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.
CB7630 is one of a number of products BTG has licensed to partners that are making progress through clinical studies. Campath®, licensed to Genzyme Corporation, is already approved to treat chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and is under development as a potential treatment for multiple sclerosis; two phase III trials in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis commenced earlier this year. TRX4, a monoclonal antibody licensed to Tolerx, Inc, has completed a successful phase II study in patients with type 1 diabetes and is expected soon to start a pivotal phase III trial. Tolerx also recently announced a collaboration with GSK to develop TRX4 for a range of autoimmune diseases.
BTG is also conducting clinical studies with several of its own programmes targeting the treatment of varicose veins, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, migraine and obstructive sleep apnoea.
For further information contact:
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BTG |
Financial Dynamics |
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Andy Burrows, Director of Investor Relations +44 (0)20 7575 1741; mobile: +44 (0)7990 530605 Christine Soden, Chief Financial Officer +44 (0)20 7575 1591 |
Ben Atwell +44 (0)20 7831 3113 |
About BTG
BTG in-licenses, develops and commercialises pharmaceuticals and has a broad pipeline of development programmes targeting neurological and other disorders including varicose veins. The company also has a substantial and growing revenue stream of milestone payments and royalties from out-licensed products. BTG operates from offices in London, Philadelphia and Osaka. For further information, visit: www.btgplc.com.
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