ANTI-ANGIOGENESIS DRUGS: VEGLIN CLINICAL TRIAL RESULTS

Veglin is a relatively new anti-angiogenesis drug designed to halt blood vessel formation. Anti-angiogenesis drugs target the body's natural production of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors (VEGF), proteins that spark blood vessel growth into cancerous tumors and lead to malignancy.

Anti-angiogenesis drugs (such as Veglin) boast a great deal of potential in the fight against a variety of cancers, ranging from malignant mesothelioma and renal cell carcinoma, to metastatic colorectal cancer and lymphoma. Some animal studies involving anti-angiogenesis drugs have already proven to be successful in slowing the spread of (in some cases even killing) malignant cancer cells.

Veglin

Manufactured by VasGene Therapeutics, Inc., Veglin is an anti-angiogenesis drug undergoing clinical trials at the University of Southern California's Keck School of Medicine. Veglin inhibits VEGF proteins, halting the formation of blood vessels and limiting the ability of tumors to grow and spread. Veglin is an antisense oligonucleotide, meaning that it can bond to messenger RNA (nucleic acid that directs protein production) and block the production of VEGF proteins.

If Veglin is successful in blocking tumor secretion of VEGF proteins, it is believed that it will be capable of preventing metastasis while simultaneously killing existing cancer cells.

To determine if you qualify for Veglin please contact Jennifer Paul, Executive Director, by calling 1-800-909-MESO (6376), or Ask Dr. Gill.

A Word About Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are separated into four distinct phases:

Phase I & II: the first two phases of any clinical trial revolve around drug safety. Candidates for phases I & II include patients with an advanced form of a given disease (in this case, cancer), who are given the opportunity to try experimental treatments.

Phase III: the third phase of any clinical trial revolves around comparing the drug with standard forms of treatment proven to work. Participants of phase III have a more optimistic prognosis while also meeting clinical trial criteria.

Phase IV: the fourth and final phase of any clinical trial coincides with the preliminary marketing of the drug. Studies gather information on the drug's effect in various populations while monitoring any long-term side effects.

Early Veglin Clinical Trial Results

Although Phase II of Veglin clinical trials are ongoing, the results of Phase I (study of VEGF-Antisense Oligonucleotide in the treatment of relapsed or refractory malignancies) were recently reported by VasGene in front of the American Society of Clinical Oncology at their annual meeting. The report detailed Veglin's success in blocking tumor growth in patients suffering from lymphoma, sarcoma, Karposi's sarcoma, and colon and lung cancers. In some instances, Veglin was successful in stabilizing or reducing tumors.

Phase II of Veglin trials began in late 2004, targeting renal cell carcinoma, malignant mesothelioma, leukemia and lymphoma. Researchers are optimistic that phase II will also yield positive results.

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