Oncoscience to Begin Advanced Nimotuzumab Trials

YM BioSciences announced that Oncoscience, its European partner for the development of the humanized EGFR-targeting monoclonal antibody, nimotuzumab, will initiate two additional late-stage trials in Europe in adult glioma and pancreatic cancer.

According to YM and Oncoscience, the first trial is a randomized, multicenter study in which nimotuzumab and radiotherapy with concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide — the current standard of care — will be compared with the current standard of care in patients with glioblastoma multiforme.

The primary endpoint for this 150-patient trial is progression-free survival with response rate and symptom control among the secondary endpoints, the companies said.

The second trial is a randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter Phase IIb/IIIa study in chemotherapy-naïve patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer who will be treated with either gemcitabine plus nimotuzumab, or gemcitabine plus placebo, according to the companies. 

The primary endpoints for this 188-patient trial are time to tumor progression and overall survival.

YM BioSciences said it anticipates extending the European trial in pancreatic cancer to Canada.