YM BIOSCIENCES Selects Chair for Pivotal Cancer Trial
30 3월 2004 - 2:01PM
PR Newswire (US)
YM BIOSCIENCES Selects Chair for Pivotal Cancer Trial MISSISSAUGA,
ON, March 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- YM BioSciences Inc. (TSX:YM,
AIM:YMBA), the cancer drug development company, today announced
that Dr. Kathleen Pritchard, M.D., F.R.C.P.C., hasagreed to act as
the North American Chair for the Company's upcoming international
pivotal DEC study in patients with metastatic breast cancer. The
DEC study is a multinational randomized Phase III clinical trial
for YM's lead drug, tesmilifene, whichwill be combined with
epirubicin/cyclophosphamide. The trial is designed to confirm the
survival advantage demonstrated in a previous Phase III study
("MA19") where tesmilifene was used in combination with the
anthracycline doxorubicin to treat patients with metastatic breast
cancer. In the first Phase III trial, the combination resulted in
an overall survival advantage of greater than 50% over the standard
of care alone. "Dr. Pritchard, of Sunnybrook and Women's College
Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, is an internationally regarded
oncologist who will ensure this important trial is performed under
the highest standards," said Mr. David Allan, Chairman and CEO of
YM BioSciences. "With this key step completed, we look forward to
commencing this trial in the coming weeks." Dr. Pritchard has held
leadership roles in a number of national and international
multi-centre clinical trials, is a member of scientific advisory
boards for clinical trials world-wide and is widely published in
the major cancer and general medical journals. Dr. Pritchard holds
the following positions: - Professor, Departments of Medicine and
Public Health Sciences, University of Toronto - Chair, Breast
Cancer Site Group, Toronto Sunnybrook Regional Cancer Centre,
Sunnybrook & Women's College Health Sciences Centre - Head,
Division of Clinical Trials & Epidemiology, Toronto Sunnybrook
Regional Cancer Centre About Tesmilifene Tesmilifene, a small
molecule chemopotentiator (for taxanes and anthracyclines), was
originally developed by Dr. L.J. Brandes of the University of
Manitoba and CancerCare Manitoba and licensed by them to YM in
2000. It has previously completed an international 305-patient
Phase III trial in which significant survival results were
demonstrated in women with metastatic breast cancer. The current
Phase III trial is designed to gain approval for the drug. The drug
has been clinically demonstrated to increase the effectiveness of
the current principal chemotherapeutic drugs, anthracyclines and
taxanes, which are used in the majority of cancers. About YM
BioSciences YM BioSciences Inc. is a cancer drug development
company. In addition to tesmilifene, the Company is developing an
EGFr humanized monoclonal antibody that has completed Phase II
trials and a GnRH anti-cancer vaccine also in clinical trials. YM
is also supporting the preclinical development of two additional
cancer products. Except for historical information, this press
release may contain forward-looking statements, which reflect the
Company's current expectation regarding future events. These
forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainties, which
may cause but are not limited to, changing market conditions, the
successful and timely completion of clinical studies, the
establishment of corporate alliances, the impact of competitive
products and pricing, new product development, uncertainties
related to the regulatory approval process and other risks detailed
from time to time inthe Company's ongoing quarterly and annual
reporting. DATASOURCE: YM BioSciences Inc. CONTACT: James Smith,
The Equicom Group Inc., Tel. +1 (416) 815-0700 x229, Email: ; YM
BioSciences Inc., Tel. +1 (905) 629-9761, Fax +1 (905) 629-4959,
Email:
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