OXiGENE, Inc. (NASDAQ: OXGN, XSSE: OXGN), Waltham, Mass., a
clinical-stage, biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics
to treat cancer and eye diseases, has reported positive results from
preclinical studies with topical formulations of ZYBRESTAT for
ophthalmological indications. The studies, performed in
industry-standard rabbit models, indicate that two formulations of
ZYBRESTAT, when applied topically to the surface of the eye, are
absorbed and result in concentrations of drug in target tissues in the
back of the eye (i.e., the retina and horoids) that the company believes
will be sufficient for therapeutic activity in age-related macular
degeneration (ARMD) and potentially other eye diseases in which abnormal
neovascularization plays a role. These results confirm preliminary
results seen in earlier preclinical studies.
"Achieving therapeutic concentrations of ZYBRESTAT with
topical delivery in relevant ocular tissues, such as the retina, in
preclinical models represents a key milestone in OXiGENE's
ophthalmology program," commented OXiGENE's president and CEO,
Richard Chin, M.D. "Having previously observed in clinical trials
that intravenously-administered ZYBRESTAT has clinical activity in
patients suffering from a form of macular degeneration, we believe a
topical formulation of ZYBRESTAT that delivers sufficient quantities of
drug to target tissues in the eye has a high likelihood of demonstrating
activity in the clinic. We now have results from multiple preclinical
studies suggesting that development of such a formulation is feasible,
and we believe that a topical formulation of ZYBRESTAT could potentially
be a major advance for patients with a variety of ophthalmic diseases
and conditions."
Tolerability of the formulations was favorable in the rabbit
studies, confirming data from earlier rodent studies. Based on these
results, OXiGENE is proceeding with further preclinical studies in
non-rodent models, which, if consistent with results from rabbit and
rodent studies, are expected to provide support for an IND submission,
currently planned for the first half of 2008.
In February 2007, OXiGENE announced positive results from a Phase
II clinical trial of intravenous ZYBRESTAT in 23 patients with myopic
macular degeneration. All patients achieved the primary endpoint of the
trial, stabilization of vision. Results from the trial were reported in
poster form in May 2007 at the 47th Annual Meeting of the Association of
Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, and a copy of the poster is
available on OXiGENE's website at
http://www.oxigene.com/press/publications.asp - Posters.
About ZYBRESTAT (combretastatin A4 phosphate / CA4P)
ZYBRESTAT(tm) is currently being evaluated in a pivotal
registration study in anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) under a Special
Protocol Assessment agreement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA). OXiGENE believes that ZYBRESTAT is poised to become the first
therapeutic product in a novel class of small-molecule drug candidates
called vascular disrupting agents (VDAs). Through interaction with
vascular endothelial cell cytoskeletal proteins, ZYBRESTAT selectively
targets and collapses tumor vasculature, thereby depriving the tumor of
oxygen and causing death of tumor cells. In clinical studies in solid
tumors, ZYBRESTAT has demonstrated potent and selective activity against
tumor vasculature, as well as clinical activity against ATC, ovarian
cancer, and various other solid tumors. In clinical studies in patients
with forms of macular degeneration, intravenously-administered ZYBRESTAT
has demonstrated clinical activity, and the company is working to
develop a convenient and patient-friendly topical formulation of
ZYBRESTAT for ophthalmological indications.
About OXiGENE
OXiGENE is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing
novel therapeutics to treat cancer and eye diseases. The company's
major focus is developing VDAs that selectively disrupt abnormal blood
vessels associated with solid tumor progression and visual impairment.
OXiGENE is dedicated to leveraging its intellectual property and
therapeutic development expertise to bring life-extending and -enhancing
medicines to patients.
For more information, call 650/888-0902 or visit
http://www.oxigene.com.
COPYRIGHT 2008 Worldwide
Videotex Reproduced with permission of the copyright holder. Further reproduction or distribution is prohibited without permission.
Copyright 2008, Gale Group. All rights
reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.
NOTE: All illustrations and photos have been removed from this article.