Pfizer Advances On Its Cancer Journey
On Saturday, Pfizer Inc (NYSE: PFE) presented positive trial data for experimental drug designed for patients suffering from cancer cachexia during the European Society for Medical Oncology 2024 Congress. Affecting as many as 9 million people across the globe, cancer cachexia is a life-threatening condition that causes cancer patients to lose appetite and consequently, weight.
Paving The Way For The World’s First Treatment For Cancer Cachexia
The mid-stage trial results showed that patients that were treated with the experimental drug that Pfizer developed showed improvements in body weight, muscle mass, quality of life and physical function. Therefore, the drug which is a monoclonal antibody called ponsegromab could become the first treatment approved in the U.S. specifically for this condition. This would translate to Pfizer saving many lives as 80% of cancer patients who suffer from this condition are not expected to make it beyond a year of being diagnosed as they are unable to meet their body’s energy and nutritional needs. The condition also makes the general treatment of cancer less effective and lowers the odds of survival as it leaves the patient even weaker, unable to tolerate the treatment.
The Trial
Involving 187 patients diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer, pancreatic cancer or colorectal cancer and high levels of a key driver of cachexia, patients who took the highest dose of ponsegromab, which is 400 milligrams, over the course of 12 weeks observed a 5.6% increase in weight compared to those patients who received a placebo. Patients who took lower doses of 200 or 100-milligrams observed roughly 3.5% and 2% increase in body weight compared to the placebo group. Pfizer added that experts consider weight gain greater than 5% as a “clinically meaningful difference” when it comes to cancer patients with cachexia and noted that increased appetite and improvement in physical activity is what was most encouraging. The good news is that no significant side effects of the drug were observed. Pfizer is planning to begin late-stage development studies in 2025 that can be used to file for approval, while also studying the effect of ponsegromab in a phase two trial in patients diagnosed with heart failure.
Catching up to Moderna Inc (NASDAQ: MRNA) and others on the cancer front.
It’s no secret that Pfizer has turned to oncology in an effort to combat the Covid-19 decline. To turn its business around, it targeted as many as 8 blockbuster cancer drugs by the end of this decade. One of its main Covid-19 rivals, Moderna is expected to launch its experimental cancer vaccine as early as next year.
Together with Merck & Co Inc (NYSE: MRK), Moderna is currently testing their combined treatment for advanced melanoma in a large-scale Phase III trial. Approximately, 1,089 patients at more than 165 sites across the globe will be tested to assess the efficiency of the experimental vaccine mRNA-4157 that Moderna and Merck co-developed, along with the immunotherapy drug, Keytruda, that is already a blockbuster for Merck. The study will assess the efficiency of the treatment that Moderna and Merck created in achieving a recurrence-free survival, while the secondary endpoints are distant metastasis-free survival, along with overall survival and safety.
Codenamed mRNA-4359, Moderna also designed a vaccine to boost people's immunity to better recognize and fight a variety of advanced solid tumor cancers. During the above-mentioned congress that took place in Barcelona, Spain, on Saturday, researchers at King’s College London presented Phase I/II trial to test Moderna’s vaccine candidate, more precisely its ability to sensitize the immune system to two specific proteins commonly common in tumor cells as well as other cells that suppress the immune system, PD-L1 and IDO1. From 16 patients diagnosed with advanced lung cancer, melanoma, and other solid tumors who were able to have their responses measured, eight patients showed no signs of their tumors growing and there were no new tumors formed. In addition, tests found that the vaccine seemed to generate a noticeable increase in immune cells that could recognize PD-L1 and IDO1. While more data will be needed to know whether mRNA-4359 can work as hoped, these results are promising.
The future of cancer treatment looks bright.
Besides vaccines designed to help patients combat cancer, Mainz Biomed N.V. (NASDAQ: MYNZ) advanced on the early screening and prevention front. A molecular genetics diagnostic company specialized in the early detection of cancer, Mainz Biomed is currently seeking FDA approval for its colorectal cancer test, ColoAlert. With an innovative portfolio of mRNA biomarkers, Mainz Biomed is promising to set a new gold standard for noninvasive detection of advanced adenoma, which is a well-known pre-cancerous condition. This week, Mainz Biomed announced its newest Brand Ambassador, Petra Smeltzer Starke, known serving as General Counsel to the White House Council of Economic Advisors and Senior Advisor to President Obama. Ms. Smeltzer Starke’s role will be to help to raise awareness on the importance of early detection of colorectal cancer. If diagnosed early, up to 90% of colorectal cancer cases can be treated successfully. Therefore, early screening makes all the difference.
By the looks of it, years ahead seem promising when it comes to revolutionizing cancer treatment.
DISCLAIMER: This content is for informational purposes only. It is not intended as investing advice.
This article is from an unpaid external contributor. It does not represent Benzinga's reporting and has not been edited for content or accuracy.
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