Positive results from Peregrine's Phase II bavituximab trial for non-small cell lung cancer

Oct 5 2009

Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: PPHM) today reported additional positive results in its Phase II trial evaluating bavituximab in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Data previously reported from the initial cohort of 21 patients in the study had indicated that 11 of 17 evaluable patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC achieved an objective tumor response according to RECIST criteria. Recent analysis from the 21-patient cohort now shows the median progression-free-survival (PFS) for these patients was 6.5 months, which compares favorably with the PFS range of 4.2 to 4.5 months reported in a similar patient population receiving carboplatin and paclitaxel as a single agent in NSCLC trials that were the basis for the design of the ongoing bavituximab study. Peregrine also reported that it has completed enrolling the total of 49 NSCLC patients planned for this study.

"The PFS data we reported today along with the objective tumor response data previously reported for the first set of patients in this study are very encouraging," said Steven W. King, president and CEO of Peregrine. "Based on these results we have already begun designing our next studies in NSCLC, where we believe bavituximab has considerable promise. We will continue to assess patients enrolled in the now-completed expansion cohort over the coming months and look forward to reporting results from the full 49-patient study population."

The primary objective of the multi-center, open-label Phase II NSCLC study is to assess the overall response rate to bavituximab with carboplatin and paclitaxel. In the trial's Simon two-stage design, 21 patients with previously untreated locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC were initially enrolled, and 17 of these patients were deemed evaluable. In this initial cohort, 11 of the 17 evaluable patients achieved an objective tumor response by the time that treatment with the combination of bavituximab, carboplatin and paclitaxel was completed. These initial results exceeded the pre-specified endpoint needed to expand the trial, which then enrolled an additional 28 patients to reach the planned study total of 49 patients.

Secondary objectives of the study include measuring time to tumor progression, duration of response, overall patient survival and safety parameters. Patients in the study are evaluated regularly for tumor response according to RECIST criteria. Patients may continue to receive bavituximab as a monotherapy after completion of chemotherapy as long as the cancer does not progress and side effects are acceptable. The trial is being conducted in India according to International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) and Good Clinical Practices (GCP) guidelines.

SOURCE Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc.