Exelixis PI3K/mTOR Inhibitor XL765 effective in Phase I

Phase I data presented at the EORTC-NCI-AACR Symposium show Exelixis PI3K/mTOR kinase inhbitor XL765  to show  demonstrate ‘robust pharmacodymanics’

ARIAD begin Phase II study of Deforolimus in Prostate Cancer

ARIAD/Merck have initiated a Phase II clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of mTOR inhibitor deforolimus in patients with advanced prostate cancer.

ARIAD to present data on Deforolimus and AP24534 at EORTC-NCI-AACR

ARIAD will present new data on mTOR inhibitor deforolimus, and multikinase inhibitor AP24534 at the EORTC-NCI-AACR meeting:
Abstract 195/321/324 – deforolimus
Abstract 553 – AP24534

RAD001/Sandostatin combo shows efficacy in pancreatic cancer

Data presented at the European of Medical Oncology (ESMO) show that combining RAD001 with Sandostatin demonstrates clinical benefits in 82% of  pancreatic neurocrine cancer patients

Kidney cancer patients treated with RAD001 reach 5 months without tumor growth

Data presented at the European of Medical Oncology (ESMO) show that kidney patients treated with RAD001 now reach 5 months without tumor growth compared to 1.9 months for controls

Novartis granted priority review for everolimus in advanced kidney cancer

Novartis have announced that RAD001 (everolimus) has been granted priority review by the US FDA for the treatment of patients with advanced kidney cancer after failure of standard treatment. Marketing authorization applications for RAD001 have also been filed with the EMEA and Swissmedic. The proposed brand name for RAD001 is Afinitor

Sirolimus found to cause veno-occlusive disease (VOD)

Sirolimus has been found to cause veno-occlusive disease (VOD) after TBI-based transplantation, and this is potentiated by concomitant methotrexate administration

Novartis PI3K/mTOR inhibitor NVP-BEZ235 inhibit VEGF induced Angionesis/Cell proliferation

Novartis’ dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitor NVP-BEZ235 has been found to inhibit VEGF-induced cell proliferation in vitro and VEGF-induced angiogenesis in vivo. Activity is believed to be due to PI3K activity since RAD001 did not exhibit the same effects

AstraZeneca initiate Phase I/II trial of mTOR inhibitor AZD8055

AstraZeneca have initiated a Phase I/II trial of mTOR inhibitor AZD8055 in Advance Solid Tumors, Lymphoma and Endometrial Carcinoma

NICE recommends against Avastin, Nexavar, Sutent and Torisel for Kidney Cancer

The UK’s National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has made a preliminary ruling stating that Avastin, Nexavar, Sutent and Torisel  are not  effective enough to warrant their high cost and shouldn’t be prescribed to new patients in Britain.