Another drug which may help us in the near future:
Phase II Program of Ascenta's Lead Product, AT-101
SAN DIEGO, CA, November 10, 2005- Ascenta Therapeutics, Inc., a developer of new medicines to treat cancer, is sponsoring a Phase II clinical trial of its lead product, AT-101, in patients with Non-hodgkin's lymphoma. AT-101 is a small molecule inhibitor of the Bcl-2 family of proteins. Preclinical research indicates that AT-101 acts through endogenous pathways to selectively induce apoptosis in tumor cells bearing one or more of the proteins in the Bcl-2 family: Bcl-2, Bcl-XL, Bcl-w, or Mcl-1. These proteins are often over-expressed on tumor cells, metastases, and other cells with chromosomal damage. In addition to this selectivity relative to conventional chemotherapeutic agents, AT-101 is an oral drug, whereas most anticancer agents require intravenous administration. "Ascenta's focus on cancer clinical development has enabled us to move into Phase II trials within nine months of initiating our clinical program for AT-101," said Dr. Jon Holmlund, Ascenta's Chief Medical Officer and Vice-President of Development, commenting on the progress. "We will shortly begin trials in other cancer indications." AT-101 is a derivative of a compound naturally found in cotton seeds. Ascenta has licensed extensive intellectual property around AT-101 and from both the National Institutes of Health and The University of Michigan.
Press release here:
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/st...04219683&EDATE=
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