Incyte highlight progress of INCB18424, JAK Inhibitor

Incyte updates with progress of JAK inhibitor INCB18424 during first quarter conference call:
Myelofibrosis: Phase I/II results in to be presented at ASCO; Discussions with FDA ongoing
Multiple Myeloma: Phase II initiated
Prostate Cancer: Phase II initiated
RA: First cohort of patients in phase IIa trial; results will be presented at the EULAR
Psoriasis: Completed 28-day Phase IIa trial

New Phase II trial of CEP-701 in Myelofibrosis

The Myeloproliferative Disorders-Research Consortium has initiated a new Phase II trial of CEP-701 (Lestaurtinib) in Myelofibrosis, Essential Thrombocythemia and Polycythemia Vera

Rigels syk inhibitor, R788, shown to treat lupus prone mice

R788 has been shown to successfully treat lupus prone mice and significantly improve their survival. R788 is currently in Phase II trials in RA, ITP and B-cell Lymphoma

Erbitux to be sold in Canada after two years of price negotiations

Erbitux will now be sold in Canada after BMS and the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB) agreed on a price. Erbitux was approved in Canada in September 2005.

VEGF Trap shows beneficial results in AMD

VEGF Trap, unde development by Regeneron and Bayer have announced encouraging results in a phase 2 Study of VEGF Trap-Eye in Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

Addition of Sorafenib to carboplatin/paclitaxel chemotherapy adds no benefit in lung cancer

No benefit was observed in a trial evaluating the benefit of adding sorafenib (Nexavar) to a carboplatin/paclitaxel combination chemotherapy in lung cancer patients. The trial has been stopped after analysis of interim results. Data was presented by Prof. Giorgio Scagliotti from the University of Torino.

Vargatef demonstrates efficacy in patients with advanced, relapsed NSCLC

Boehringer Ingelheim’s Angiokinase inhibitor BIBF 1120 (Vargatef) has demonstrated efficacy in patients with advanced, relapsed non-small cell lung cancer in a Phase II study. Results were presented at the 1st European Lung Cancer Conference in Geneva, Switzerland.

iCo Therapeutics C-raf kinase antisense product iCo-007

Information on iCo Therapeutics’ C-raf kinase antisense product iCo-007 for diabetic macular edema will be presented at next weeks ARVO meeting (Apr 29, 3:00 PM – 4:45 PM)

EMEA issues revised positive opinion on lapatinib in breast cancer

The EMEA’s CHMP division has issued a revised positive opinion for lapatinib in breast cancer. This follows a review of new data provided in February 2008.

New Database of EGFR mutations launched this week

Researchers at the Department of Molecular Pathology and Translational Oncology at Metropolitan Hospital, Athens, Greece, 2008 have launched a new database of known somatic mutations of EGFR
http://www.somaticmutations-egfr.org/