Azaya announces final results from ATI-1123 Phase I study on cancers

Jun 14 2012

Azaya Therapeutics, Inc. announced final results from the Phase I study of its anti-cancer drug, ATI-1123 (liposomal docetaxel), today. The results showed that 79 percent of heavily pretreated patients received benefit from ATI-1123. The 29 patients enrolled in the study suffered from a variety of solid tumors, including cervical, gastric, melanoma, non-small cell lung (NSCLD), ovarian, pancreatic, prostate, thyroid, urachal and uterine cancers.    

Based on these very positive results, Azaya will begin the process to move ATI-1123 to Phase II clinical trials.

The Phase I study was conducted at the Mary Crowley Cancer Research Center in Dallas and the Institute for Drug Development at the Cancer Therapy & Research Center at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. The objectives of the study were to:

• Determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), dose limiting toxicities and the pharmacokinetics (PK) of ATI-1123
• Establish the recommended Phase II dose of ATI-1123
• Observe patients for evidence of anti-tumor activity

Study Population:

• As noted, patients enrolled in the study had a variety of solid tumors including cervical, gastric, melanoma, non-small cell lung (NSCLC), ovarian, pancreatic, prostate, thyroid, urachal and uterine cancers
• Nine of the enrolled study patients had been previously treated with standard docetaxel

Results for MTD and Dosing Objectives:

• The MTD was observed at a dose of 90mg/m² with an enhanced PK profile compared to docetaxel
  • No new toxicities were observed compared to the published toxicity profile of docetaxel
• Given the observed activity, the recommended Phase II dose is 90 mg/m²

Results for Clinical Benefit Objective:

• 76% of the study patients (22 patients) had stable disease and one patient had a partial response with a tumor reduction of 61.3%
• Six pancreatic patients had stable disease and one had a 29% tumor reduction

Of the six patients previously treated with docetaxel, five of them had stable disease and one had a partial response when treated with ATI-1123.

John Nemunaitis, M.D., the Executive Director of the Mary Crowley Cancer Research Centers in Dallas, said: "Our cancer center treated 18 patients in this study. All of the patients tolerated the drug well. We had 2 patients with prostate cancer, one of them remained on treatment with ATI-1123 for 14 months, and we had 6 patients with pancreatic cancer, most maintained stable disease for at least 3 months. I am very encouraged about this product as a result of our patient outcomes."

Steve Weitman, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the Institute for Drug Development at CTRC in San Antonio, said: "This novel therapy clearly has shown anti-tumor activity in a very resistant and refractory patient population. These initial results are very encouraging and warrant further study."

Michael Dwyer, President and CEO of Azaya, said: "The results reported in this Phase I study of ATI-1123 have met all of our scientific goals and exceeded our expectations for the benefits provided to patients. Further, because ATI-1123 uses an active ingredient - docetaxel - that is already in use with FDA-approval and kills tumors, it has a much lower development risk profile than a completely new chemical formulation."

"Based on these study results," Dwyer said, "ATI-1123 has the potential to be an alternative treatment for patients with advanced solid tumors. Additional Phase II clinical trials will be required to assess tumor response in a larger number of patients with specific solid tumor types. Azaya will be aggressively pursuing these opportunities to explore benefit for more patients."