New antibody to block the progression of metastatic breast cancer enters Phase I clinical study
Breast cancer affects millions of women in the U.S., many of whom buy Tamoxifen to help treat their condition.
Breast cancer affects millions of women in the U.S., many of whom buy Tamoxifen to help treat their condition. New remedies are being developed every day for this devastating illness, and Merrimack Pharmaceuticals recently unveiled a Phase I clinical study to test the effectiveness of an antibody called MM-111.
This type of therapy aims to specifically target tumor cells and inhibit the activity of genes that signal proliferation, such as HER2, essentially halting the progression of the disease.
"HER2-positive cancers are historically more aggressive and carry a poorer prognosis than other types of solid tumors," said Clet Niyikiza, executive vice president of development for Merrimack Pharmaceuticals. "Patients with HER2-positive metastatic cancer eventually progress or are intolerant of current approved regimens."
He added that the new drug will be tested in combination with other treatments, such as cisplatin, capecitabine and trastuzumab in a group of patients with HER2-positive tumors. Testing the efficacy of MM-111 when administered with other remedies may be an effective way to block the proliferation of breast cancer.
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