CANCER-DRUG SUCCESS AMGEN REMEDY STAVING OFF DISEASE.Byline: Brent Hopkins Staff Writer THOUSAND OAKS Thousand Oaks, residential city (1990 pop. 104,352), Ventura co., S Calif., in a farm area; inc. 1964. Avocados, citrus, vegetables, strawberries, and nursery products are grown. - Amgen Inc.'s latest cancer fighter turned out to be an even better warrior than it expected, the biotech giant announced Thursday. The company co-developed panitumumab to fight metastatic Metastatic The term used to describe a secondary cancer, or one that has spread from one area of the body to another. Mentioned in: Coagulation Disorders metastatic pertaining to or of the nature of a metastasis. colorectal cancer colorectal cancer Malignant tumour of the large intestine (colon) or rectum. Risk factors include age (after age 50), family history of colorectal cancer, chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, benign polyps, physical inactivity, and a diet high in fat. with Fremont-based Abgenix Inc., receiving fast-track designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in July. In the recently completed study, the companies expected one-third of patients to survive with no progression of symptoms. After testing it on 463 patients who had not improved after chemotherapy, they were surprised to find that 46 percent instead survived without their symptoms progressing. ``We saw some tumor tumor: see neoplasm. shrinkage and, in addition, we slowed the rate of tumor progression,'' said Trish Hawkins, a spokeswoman for Amgen. ``It's exciting, because it potentially offers a new option.'' The deal between companies goes back 10 years, when Abgenix partnered with Immunex. Amgen purchased the latter company and continued the agreement in 2003, agreeing to handle development and commercialization, while Abgenix manufactures the drug. The companies, which split costs and profits equally, hope to win FDA FDA abbr. Food and Drug Administration FDA, n.pr See Food and Drug Administration. FDA, n.pr the abbreviation for the Food and Drug Administration. approval for a launch in 2006. Colorectal cancer is the third most common kind of cancer in America, with 100,000 new cases diagnosed annually. ``It's exciting news for the company and important news for cancer patients,'' said Greg Mann, director of corporate communications Corporate communications is the process of facilitating information and knowledge exchanges with internal and key external groups and individuals that have a direct relationship with an enterprise. for Abgenix. ``It gives them an alternative when they've failed with chemotherapy.'' Shares of Amgen moved up $3.61, or 4.9 percent, to close at $77.51 after release of the news Thursday morning. Abgenix added $3.53, or 38 percent, to close at $12.90. Brent Hopkins, (818) 713-3738 brent.hopkins(at)dailynews.com |
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion