WEST HAVEN, CT and RICHMOND, CA November 20, 2003 Bayer Pharmaceuticals Corporation (NYSE: BAY) and Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ONXX) announced today new preclinical data on the proposed anti-tumor activity of the investigational drug BAY 43-9006, indicating that the novel signal transduction inhibitor exhibits a dual mechanism of action targeting both cell proliferation and angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels to support cancer cell growth). The data were presented at the American Association for Cancer Research-National Cancer Institute-European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (AACR-NCI-EORTC) meeting in Boston, USA.
BAY 43-9006 is the first compound that is known to target both Raf kinase and VEGFR2 to inhibit two essential mechanisms involved in tumor growth. Raf kinase is a key enzyme in an important growth signaling pathway associated with the proliferation of tumor cells. VEGFR2 is a main receptor of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which plays a key role in angiogenesis.
Additionally, updated Phase II clinical data was presented at the meeting, evaluating BAY 43-9006 as a potential treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC, or kidney cancer).
"BAY 43-9006 exhibits dual activity in important mechanisms that inhibit cancer progression. These findings suggest that BAY 43-9006 may have a potential role in the treatment of a range of cancers," said Susan Kelley, M.D., vice president, Oncology, Bayer Pharmaceuticals Corporation. "Besides kidney cancer, Bayer and Onyx are also evaluating this novel compound as a treatment for melanoma, liver, pancreatic and other cancers."
Interim Phase II Study Results
Bayer and Onyx also released an updated data analysis of Phase II clinical results that were first presented in October 2003. The updated data analysis included 50 participants with advanced and progressive RCC who were evaluable after 12 weeks of treatment. Of
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Contact: Kelly Thornicroft
kthornicroft@gcigroup.com
312-424-5328
GCI Group
20-Nov-2003
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