MEDIGENE STARTS PHASE II TRIALS OF PANCREATIC CANCER DRUG

MediGene has initiated clinical Phase II trials on its EndoTAG-1 drug candidate to treat advanced pancreatic cancer.

The trial will evaluate safety, tolerability and efficacy trends of various doses of EndoTAG-1 in combination with Eli Lilly's gemcitabine, a cytostatic drug approved for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Some 20 centers in four European countries will over the next 18 months enroll 200 patients for the study. An interim analysis of the results of the first 100 patients is planned for the end of 2006.

MediGene also plans to start trials in other cancer indications next year for this drug candidate.