Increases in VEGF-family markers in metastatic colorectal cancer patients associated with Avastin resistance

Jun 7 2011

Circadian Technologies Limited (ASX: CIR) announced today the presentation of data at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago USA associating resistance to Avastin® with increases in plasma VEGF-C and D concentrations.

The poster presentation entitled "The Association of Alternate VEGF Ligands with Resistance to Anti-VEGF Therapy in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (mCRC)" is available on Circadian's website at www.circadian.com.au.

Resistance to Avastin® is a frequent occurrence in the treatment of certain cancers with resulting loss of response and disease progression. The study, which was led by Drs Lieu and Kopetz at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center showed that increases in VEGF-family markers in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer are associated with Avastin® resistance. In particular, VEGF-C increases were seen in patients prior to and at the time of disease progression while receiving Avastin® and chemotherapy.

Mr. Mark Sullivan, Head of Development for Circadian, said: "The clinical data provide an important insight into the role that VEGF-C plays in the development of Avastin® resistance. The findings are supportive of our strategy for combining our VEGF-C antibody (VGX-100) with Avastin® to seek better outcomes for patients. The data also provide further rationale for the development of VEGF-C and/or VEGF-D based biomarker tests to monitor cancer therapy."

Scott Kopetz, M.D.,Ph.D. of MD Anderson said: "Our data show that the VEGF-family ligands, other than VEGF itself, are associated with Avastin®-containing chemotherapy resistance in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. We are planning prospective confirmatory studies to further evaluate and validate these findings."

Mr. Robert Klupacs, CEO of Circadian Technologies, said: "We are extremely heartened by the ever increasing amount of clinical data validating VEGF-C and D as important therapeutic targets. We look forward to continuing our excellent collaboration with Dr Kopetz and colleagues at MD Anderson, and to the commencement of clinical trials in cancer patients with our VEGF-C antibody VGX-100."

Circadian's wholly owned subsidiary, Vegenics, owns worldwide rights to an extensive intellectual property portfolio covering angiogenesis targets VEGF-D, VEGF-C and the receptor protein VEGFR-3.

SOURCE Circadian Technologies Limited