OncoMed Pharmaceuticals (OMED, Financial), which is a development-stage biotechnology company, pledges to improve cancer treatment by accentuating antibodies and other agents that target the biologic pathways critical to tumor-initiating cells, which are otherwise called “cancer stem cells.” OncoMed throws more weight in understanding these tumor-initiating cells to discover and develop generous therapeutics to induce important alternatives for the treatment of cancer.
Insights into the expansion stage study
OncoMed has made a recent announcement about enrolling its first biomarker-selected patient in the expansion stage of a phase I study on its cancer candidate, OMP-52M51.
OncoMed is considering the OMP-52M51, an anti-Notch1 antibody for the treatment of solid tumor and to materialise this endeavour, they have tied up with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK, Financial). The patient will go through two phase of studies –Â one is the treatment of select advanced solid tumors (including HER2-negative breast, esophageal, colorectal, gastric, pancreatic and small cell lung cancers, adenoid cystic carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma) and the other for certain types of hematologic malignancy. They want to comprehend the most tolerated dose and whether or not this is safe besides pharmacokinetics, immunogenicity and preliminary efficacy of OMP-52M51.
They are enrolling the candidate with tumors over-expressing the activated form of Notch1 in the stage of phase-1 study. The determined dosage for them will be 1.5 mg/kg dose of OMP-52M51. This stage aspire to assess the safety profile of the phase II single-agent dose of OMP-52M51 aligned with weighing up activity of the candidate in the patients. The expansion cohort data is slated to be out in 2015.
Notice for the investors
Back in December Ă‚ 2007, OncoMed and Glaxo had pegged a deal for the development of cancer stem cell antibody therapeutics that aimed at the Notch signalling pathway. At the very nascent of the expansion study generated a $5 million milestone payment from Glaxo.
As the agreement had it, both the companies are now concentrating on the development of two candidates, OMP-52M51 and tarextumab. Glaxo holds on to an early selection to acquire a special license to OMP-52M51 towards the end of certain phase I studies or a standard option towards the end of certain phase II studies. It also preserves an option to obtain an exclusive license to tarextumab on the verge of completion of select randomized, proof-of-concept phase II studies. The company has to choose both the programs for it being eligible for receiving collective payments of more than $600 million from Glaxo which includes the milestone and upfront payments which are already received along with double-digit royalties on net product sales.
By its recent endeavors and plans in the pipeline, more investors are inclining towards OncoMed which hints at a huge profit generation for the company and the investors at large.
Some recent updates
OncoMed is likely to take part in the BIO CEO and Investor meeting being held at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City on Monday, February 9, 2015 where Paul Hastings, OncoMed’s chairman and chief executive officer will present a corporate update at 11:30 a.m. EST.
What follows suit is the February 12 Leerink Global Healthcare conference being held in New York City will be attended by OncoMed. Hastings will bring forth the advancement report of the company's recent expansion stage study for solid tumor drugs.
Seemingly, OncoMed accelerated its prospects and is all set to magnet more investors by the day with its new project. While OncoMed expands the horizons of expectations, sales growth ratio also anticipates a new high.
