PRIME NEWSWIRE
TRACON Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(TRACON), a privately-held biopharmaceutical company focused on the development
of products for oncology and ophthalmology treatment, announced today that it
has dosed the initial three cancer patients in a Phase 1 clinical trial with
TRC105.
TRC105 is a first-in-class human chimeric monoclonal antibody that inhibits
tumor growth by binding to CD105 (endoglin), a receptor over-expressed on
proliferating endothelium that is required for angiogenesis. TRC105 has shown
activity, as monotherapy or when combined with chemotherapy, in pre-clinical
studies of breast and colorectal cancer. Pre-clinical data also indicate CD105
expression is increased following treatment of human cancer with anti-VEGF
therapy.
TRC105 is currently being developed by TRACON in oncology and Age-Related
Macular Degeneration (AMD), following execution of a license agreement with
Roswell Park Cancer Institute granting TRACON worldwide rights to develop and
commercialize TRC105.
"We view TRC105 as one of the top angiogenesis inhibitors in clinical
development. The target of TRC105 shares many features with the VEGF receptor.
Most importantly, both are essential for angiogenesis, in that deletion of
either receptor prevents blood vessel formation in utero. Pre-clinical data
indicating increased CD105 expression following anti-VEGF therapy leads us to
believe that TRC105 may complement treatment with Avastin(r), Nexavar(r) and
Sutent(r)," said Charles Theuer, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive
Officer of TRACON Pharmaceuticals, Inc. "Moving an antibody into the clinic that
has the potential to treat multiple solid tumors and complement anti-VEGF
therapy is a major milestone for TRACON. We anticipate dosing our third
first-in-class cancer treatment, TRC102, later this quarter."
The Phase 1 trial is designed to assess the safety, tolerability and
pharmacokinetics, as well as preliminary anti-tumor activity, of TRC105 in
patients with advanced cancer.
About TRACON Pharmaceuticals
TRACON Pharmaceuticals (www.traconpharma.com) is a privately held
biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of products for oncology
and ophthalmology treatment, including agents that inhibit angiogenesis. TRACON
addresses unmet needs in these areas with product candidates that use
established platforms that will complement existing therapies. TRC093 is a
monoclonal antibody that binds to cleaved collagen to inhibit angiogenesis and
tumor growth that has been dosed in a Phase 1 trial. TRC105 is a monoclonal
antibody that binds CD105 to inhibit angiogenesis that has been dosed in a Phase
1 trial. TRC102 is a small molecule intended to reverse resistance to
chemotherapeutics that is currently being evaluated in a Phase 1 trial and
TRC101 is a nanoliposome embedded with ceramide used to improve the activity and
delivery of chemotherapeutics. TRACON Pharmaceuticals was founded by Paramount
BioSciences, LLC.
About Paramount BioSciences
Paramount BioSciences, LLC is a global pharmaceutical development and healthcare
investment firm that conceives, nurtures, and supports new biotechnology and
life-sciences companies. For additional information about Paramount BioSciences,
visit www.paramountbio.com.