Phase 1 Study Initiated with Micromet Anti-GM-CS Human Antibody MT203
June 18 2009 - 7:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
BETHESDA, Md., June 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Micromet, Inc.
(NASDAQ: MITI), a biopharmaceutical company developing novel,
proprietary antibodies for the treatment of cancer, inflammation
and autoimmune diseases, today announced the initiation of the
first clinical trial for the anti-granulocyte macrophage
colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) human antibody MT203 by its
collaboration partner Nycomed. The double-blind, randomized,
placebo controlled study will investigate the safety and
pharmacokinetics of MT203. GM-CSF has been shown to play a
significant role in various autoimmune and inflammatory diseases,
including rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis,
asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Under a 2007
agreement between Micromet and Nycomed, the two companies are
jointly developing MT203. Micromet has been primarily responsible
for the non-clinical development of MT203, whereas Nycomed will be
responsible for the clinical development and commercialization of
MT203 going forward. "The initiation of the first clinical trial
represents a major milestone for MT203," comments Christian Itin,
President and CEO of Micromet. "Our partner Nycomed is well
positioned to pursue the clinical development of MT203 in the field
of severe inflammatory and autoimmune diseases." "We are very
pleased with the progress in our collaboration with Micromet,"
comments Anders Ulman, Executive Vice President Research and
Development of Nycomed. "We are looking forward to the results of
this first trial as a key milestone in our clinical development
program." About Micromet, Inc. Micromet, Inc. is a
biopharmaceutical company developing novel, proprietary antibodies
for the treatment of cancer, inflammation and autoimmune diseases.
Its product development pipeline includes novel antibodies
generated with its proprietary BiTE(R) antibody platform, as well
as conventional monoclonal antibodies. BiTE antibodies represent a
new class of antibodies that activate the T cells of a patient's
immune system to eliminate cancer cells. Five of Micromet's
antibodies are currently in clinical trials. Its BiTE antibody
blinatumomab (MT103) is in a phase 2 clinical trial for the
treatment of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and
in a phase 1 clinical trial for the treatment of patients with
non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). A second BiTE antibody, MT110, is in
a phase 1 clinical trial for the treatment of patients with solid
tumors. MT110 binds to the epithelial cell adhesion molecule, or
EpCAM, which is overexpressed in many solid tumors. Micromet's
human monoclonal antibody adecatumumab (MT201) also binds to EpCAM
and is being developed under a collaboration with Merck Serono.
Adecatumomab is in a phase 2 clinical trial in colorectal carcinoma
patients after complete resection of liver metastases, and a phase
1b clinical trial evaluating adecatumumab in combination with
docetaxel for the treatment of patients with metastatic breast
cancer. Micromet's monoclonal antibody MT293, also known as TRC093,
is licensed to TRACON Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and is in a phase 1
clinical trial for the treatment of patients with cancer. MT203, a
human antibody neutralizing the activity of granulocyte/macrophage
colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), which has potential
applications in the treatment of various inflammatory and
autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, or
multiple sclerosis, is in a phase 1 clinical trial conducted by
Micromet's collaboration partner Nycomed. Micromet's licensee
Morphotek, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eisai, is also expected to
initiate a first phase 1 clinical trial with Micromet's
glycolipid-binding human antibody MT228 for the treatment of
melanoma. Micromet's preclinical product pipeline includes several
novel BiTE antibodies generated with its proprietary BiTE antibody
platform technology. A BiTE antibody targeting CEA for the
treatment of solid tumors is being developed in collaboration with
MedImmune. In addition, Micromet has entered into an option,
collaboration and license agreement with Bayer Schering Pharma AG
under which Bayer Schering Pharma was granted an exclusive option
to license a specified BiTE antibody against an undisclosed solid
tumor target. Other BiTE antibodies targeting MSCP, CD33, HER2,
EGFR and other targets are in various stages of preclinical
development. Forward-Looking Statements This release contains
certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to be materially
different from historical results or from any future results
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These
forward-looking statements include statements regarding the
efficacy, safety and intended utilization of MT203 and other
product candidates, the conduct, timing and results of future
clinical trials, and expectations of the future expansion of our
product pipeline and collaborations. You are urged to consider
statements that include the words "ongoing," "may," "will,"
"believes," "potential," "expects," "plans," "anticipates,"
"intends," or the negative of those words or other similar words to
be uncertain and forward-looking. Factors that may cause actual
results to differ materially from any future results expressed or
implied by any forward-looking statements include the risk that
product candidates that appeared promising in early research,
preclinical studies or clinical trials do not demonstrate safety
and/or efficacy in subsequent clinical trials, the risk that
encouraging results from early research, preclinical studies or
clinical trials may not be confirmed upon further analysis of the
detailed results of such research, preclinical study or clinical
trial, the risk that additional information relating to the safety,
efficacy or tolerability of our product candidates may be
discovered upon further analysis of preclinical or clinical trial
data, the risk that we or our collaborators will not obtain
approval to market our product candidates, the risks associated
with reliance on outside financing to meet capital requirements,
and the risks associated with reliance on collaborators, including
MedImmune, Merck Serono, TRACON and Nycomed, for the funding or
conduct of further development and commercialization activities
relating to our product candidates. These factors and others are
more fully discussed in Micromet's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2009, filed with the SEC on
May 11, 2009, as well as other filings by the company with the SEC.
DATASOURCE: Micromet, Inc. CONTACT: US Media: Andrea tenBroek or
Chris Stamm, +1-781-684-0770, ; US Investors: Susan Noonan,
+1-212-966-3650, ; European Media: Ludger Wess, +49 (40) 8816 5964,
; or European Investors: Ines-Regina Buth, +49 (30) 2363 2768, Web
Site: http://www.micromet-inc.com/
Copyright