An Aurora A/angiogenic kinase inhibitor named “ENMD-2076” demonstrated anti-cancer activity in recurrent, platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian cancer patients, including three patients with a difficult-to-treat subtype of the disease referred to as “clear cell carcinoma.”
An Aurora A/angiogenic kinase inhibitor named “ENMD-2076” demonstrated anti-cancer activity in recurrent, platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian cancer patients, including three patients with a difficult-to-treat subtype of the disease referred to as “clear cell carcinoma.” The trial drug results were reported in connection with a phase II clinical trial testing of ENMD-2076. The findings associated with ENMD-2076 were published in the January 2013 edition of the European Journal of Cancer.
ENMD-2076 is an orally-active, Aurora A/angiogenic kinase inhibitor with a unique kinase selectivity profile and multiple mechanisms of action. ENMD-2076 has been shown to inhibit a distinct profile of angiogenic tyrosine kinase targets in addition to the Aurora A kinase. Aurora kinases are key regulators of mitosis (cell division), and are often over-expressed in human cancers. ENMD-2076 also targets the VEGFR, Flt-3 and FGFR3 kinases which have been shown to play important roles in the pathology of several cancers.
The phase II trial was an open-label, single-arm Phase II study of single agent ENMD-2076 taken daily (orally). The study enrolled 64 patients, and the progression-free survival (PFS) rate at 6 months was 22%, with a median time-to-progression of 3.6 months. The median number of prior treatment regimens per patient was two. The most common adverse events were fatigue, hypertension and diarrhea, with the most significant events being hypertension and fatigue. Unfortunately, none of the markers of mitotic index or angiogenesis evaluated in the archival tissue samples obtained were predictive of greater benefit or resistance to ENMD-2076 treatment.
Based on the foregoing results, the clinical investigators concluded that ENMD-2076 possesses anti-cancer activity in recurrent, platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, and they observed toxicities were similar to other protein kinase inhibitors. The clinical investigators also noted that additional studies with ENMD-2076 are warranted, especially in combination with active chemotherapeutic agents in platinum-resistant patients. The investigators added that further work to determine appropriate biomarkers for ENMD-2076 should be incorporated into new clinical studies.
The co-authors of the article include clinical investigators from the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Indiana University Simon Cancer Center, University of Colorado, and University of Chicago in the U.S., as well as the Princess Margaret Hospital and Campbell Family Institute for Cancer Research in Toronto, Canada.
Ursula A. Matulonis, M.D., Medical Director, Gynecologic Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Lead study author Dr. Ursula A. Matulonis, who is the medical director of Gynecologic Oncology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, commented on the publication as follows:
“Epithelial ovarian cancer represents the 4th leading cause of cancer deaths among women in the United States. There is unmet medical needs to develop new drugs with fewer side effects and/or better efficacy to improve the quality and duration of life of the patients, especially those whose cancer is resistant to platinum treatment.
ENMD-2076 is a novel small molecule kinase inhibitor with unique combination of mechanisms of action that involve inhibition of several pathways key to tumor growth and survival including angiogenesis, proliferation, and the cell cycle. Based on pre-clinical and Phase 1 clinical studies of ENMD-2076, we believed that the drug candidate may play a role in fitting some of the unmet medical needs. This Phase 2 trial further demonstrates the anti-cancer activity of ENMD-2076 in yet a difficult to treat patient population of platinum-resistant ovarian cancer with tolerable side effects.”
Notably, Dr. Matulonis also commented on the anti-cancer activity of ENMD-2076 in three ovarian clear cell carcinoma patients as follows:
“ENMD-2076 also showed anti-cancer activities in patients with clear cell carcinoma [CCC], a histological subtype considered as chemo-resistant. Two of three [CCC] patients recruited had longer PFS than the median with one patient in stable disease for over two years. As recent reports suggest VEGF is frequently expressed in clear cell cancers, this subtype might be particularly responsive to therapies that incorporate VEGF inhibition. Further clinical evaluations of ENMD-2076 may therefore be warranted in this patient subset either as a single agent or in combinations.” [emphasis added]
Ken Ren, Ph.D., EntreMed’s Chief Executive Officer, further commented:
“We are very pleased and honored to have this Phase 2 trial data published in such an esteemed journal. This is a further endorsement of the global medical and science community on the clinical and scientific value of ENMD-2076 in ovarian cancer treatment. We truly believe that ENMD-2076 may potentially offer unique and competitive advantages for unmet medical needs in such difficult to treat oncology indications including platinum-resistant and/or clear cell ovarian cancer in improving the patients’ quality and duration of life. We are committed to the global clinical development of ENMD-2076 for cancer patients who might benefit from its therapy. With the support of clinical investigators like Dr. Matulonis, their commitment and dedication, and the support from our long term shareholders, we are confident that we can achieve our goal.”
About EntreMed
EntreMed, Inc. is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company employing a drug development strategy primarily in the United States and China to develop targeted therapeutics for the global market. Its lead compound, ENMD-2076, a selective angiogenic kinase inhibitor, has completed several Phase 1 studies in solid tumors, multiple myeloma, and leukemia, and is currently completing a multi-center Phase 2 study in ovarian cancer. EntreMed, Inc. recently initiated a dual-institutional Phase 2 study of ENMD-2076 in triple-negative breast cancer. Additional information about EntreMed is available on the Company’s web site at www.entremed.com.
About ENMD-2076
ENMD-2076 is an orally-active, Aurora A/angiogenic kinase inhibitor with a unique kinase selectivity profile and multiple mechanisms of action. ENMD-2076 has been shown to inhibit a distinct profile of angiogenic tyrosine kinase targets in addition to the Aurora A kinase. Aurora kinases are key regulators of mitosis (cell division), and are often over-expressed in human cancers. ENMD-2076 also targets the VEGFR, Flt-3 and FGFR3 kinases which have been shown to play important roles in the pathology of several cancers. ENMD-2076 has shown promising activity in Phase 1 clinical trials in solid tumor cancers, leukemia, and multiple myeloma. ENMD-2076 is currently completing a Phase 2 trial for ovarian cancer. EntreMed, Inc. recently initiated a dual-institutional Phase 2 study of ENMD-2076 in triple-negative breast cancer.
ENMD-2076 received orphan drug designation from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of ovarian cancer, multiple myeloma and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In the United States, the Orphan Drug Act is intended to encourage companies to develop therapies for the treatment of diseases that affect fewer than 200,000 people in this country. Orphan drug designation provides seven years of market exclusivity that begins once ENMD-2076 receives FDA marketing approval. It also provides certain financial incentives that can help support the development of ENMD-2076.
Citation:
Matulonis UA, Lee J, Lasonde B, et. al. ENMD-2076, an oral inhibitor of angiogenic and proliferation kinases, has activity in recurrent, platinum resistant ovarian cancer. Eur J Cancer. 2013 Jan;49(1):121-31.doi:10.1016/j.ejca.2012.07.020. PubMed PMID: 22921155.
Additional Source:
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s Ursula A. Matulonis, M.D. Article on EntreMed’s ENMD-2076 Published in the European Journal of Cancer, EntreMed, Inc. Press Release, Sept. 6, 2012.
ENMD-2076 Phase II Ovarian Cancer Clinical Trial Protocol Summary:
A Phase 2 Study of Oral ENMD-2076 Administered to Patients With Platinum Resistant Ovarian Cancer, ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01104675 (study ongoing, but not recruiting patients).
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