Mersana Therapeutics Publishes Review Article Detailing Advantages of its Lead Cancer Compound in Journal of Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews
Fleximer(R) Conjugate XMT-1001 Demonstrates Prolonged Stable Disease Without Severe Side Effects Associated with Camptothecin or Irinotecan -
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Nov. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Mersana Therapeutics,
a platform-based cancer therapeutics company, announced today that
a review of the Company's lead compound, XMT-1001, will appear in
the November 12, 2009 special issue of Advanced Drug Delivery
Reviews on Polymer Therapeutics: Clinical Applications and
Challenges for Development. The review article, entitled,
"XMT-1001, a novel polymeric camptothecin pro-drug in clinical
development for patients with advanced cancer," was authored by
Alexander V. Yurkovetskiy, Ph.D., and Robert J. Fram, M.D., both of
Mersana, and provided an overview of XMT-1001 in the context of
other topoisomerase I inhibitors conjugated to polymers or
encapsulated in liposomes.
XMT-1001 is a conjugate of the broad-spectrum cytotoxic
camptothecin (CPT) that employs Mersana's Fleximer® platform.
XMT-1001 is currently in a Phase 1 trial in patients with advanced
solid tumors. Non-Fleximer-linked CPT was shown to be active in
prior clinical studies conducted by the National Cancer Institute
(NCI), but was discontinued due to severe bladder toxicity. The
XMT-1001 program significantly improves on the clinically active
drug, providing broad-spectrum activity with potentially better
efficacy and safety.
According to the review, XMT-1001 demonstrated an improved
therapeutic window compared to CPT or irinotecan in human tumor
xenograft studies. The review also reports that XMT-1001, unlike
many other conjugated CPT analogs, provides a slow and sustained
systemic release of well defined drug products, enabling drug
delivery to tumor, both in low molecular weight and in
macromolecular forms. This dual-release mechanism of XMT-1001 may
result in lower levels of CPT in the urine and less bladder
toxicity, a serious dose-limiting toxicity associated with CPT and
CPT conjugated to other polymers.
Preliminary data from the ongoing Phase 1 trial of XMT-1001
support these findings, revealing favorable pharmacokinetics,
safety, and potential for therapeutic activity, demonstrated by
multiple heavily pre-treated patients with advanced cancer
exhibiting prolonged stable disease at non-myelosuppressive doses
of XMT-1001. To date, XMT-1001 has not caused severe diarrhea or
hemorrhagic cystitis, serious side effects associated with
non-linked CPT or irinotecan.
"This review article once again demonstrates the unique
advantages of linking Fleximer to cancer compounds. Specifically,
Mersana's development of a CPT-conjugated drug with a dual-release
mechanism could potentially address both the bladder and
gastrointestinal toxicities that have previously been a concern
with these drugs, while also potentially enhancing efficacy," said
Julie Olson, Ph.D., CEO of Mersana. "Mersana has made solid
progress over the last year, as XMT-1001 moves through Phase 1 and
we prepare to advance our second candidate, XMT-1107, into the
clinic. We're encouraged by the attention our Fleximer®
technology is garnering for its ability to be chemically linked to
small molecules and biologics such as siRNA and peptide
therapeutics to transform existing and experimental anti-cancer
agents into new, patentable drugs with superior pharmaceutical
properties. We look forward to continuing to advance existing and
new compounds in the coming year."
About Mersana Therapeutics, Inc.
Mersana Therapeutics employs its biodegradable polymer platform
(Fleximer®) to create new and better medicines. We are
advancing our own clinical-stage pipeline of novel compounds with
the potential to address multiple oncology indications. We also
leverage the versatility of Fleximer through partnerships to
overcome the safety, efficacy, and delivery challenges of nucleic
acids, biologics, and small molecules in numerous therapeutic
areas. For more information, visit www.mersana.com.
About Fleximer®
Fleximer is a novel, biodegradable and bio-inert polymer that
can be chemically linked to small molecules, biologics and nucleic
acids to enhance their pharmacokinetics and safety, potentially
transforming existing and experimental agents into new, patentable
drugs with superior properties. The Fleximer platform has broad and
versatile applications across therapeutic categories and for
enhancing the delivery of all types of therapeutics. Mersana's
internal pipeline was generated with the Fleximer platform.
Fleximer® is a trademark of Mersana Therapeutics, Inc.
Source: Mersana Therapeutics, Inc.
CONTACT: Kari Watson, kwatson@macbiocom.com, or
Jennifer Conrad,
jconrad@macbiocom.com,
+1-781-235-3060, both for Mersana Therapeutics, Inc.
Web Site: http://www.mersana.com/
Posted: November 2009
