Madrid, 27 November 2009: PharmaMar, a biopharmaceutical company in the Zeltia Group (ZEL.MC), reported notable progress with its compounds to the 21st annual conference of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), which was held in Boston (USA).
The AACR-NCI-EORTC annual conference is one of the leading international forums for the latest developments in cancer treatment. Over 3,000 academics, scientists and representatives from the pharmaceutical industry were in attendance. PharmaMar presented six new studies at the conference.
Two reports provided new data on the action mechanism and properties of Zalypsis® (PM00104) in treating solid tumours and lymphoma. Zalypsis® is a new chemical entity developed in PharmaMar's research programme. It is currently in Phase II trials for treating cervical cancer as well as endometrial cancer in patients who have been treated previously with chemotherapy.
A third study characterised the activity profile of Irvalec® in numerous human tumour cell lines. The tests suggest that sensitivity to the compound depends on the type of differentiation of cancer cells. Best results were obtained with epithelial phenotype cancer cells. Irvalec® is currently undergoing Phase II trials.
And three posters provided new data about Yondelis®, which was approved by the European Commission in 2007 for advanced and metastatic soft tissue sarcoma and in 2009 for relapsed ovarian cancer.
The first study analysed the gene expression profile of Yondelis®-resistant myxoid liposarcoma cell lines. The results open new avenues of research into the effect of Yondelis® on adipose tissue differentiation modulators in myxoid liposarcoma cells.
The second study presented a clinical trial confirming the efficacy and safety of combined treatment with Yondelis® and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) to treat relapsed ovarian cancer.
And the third report presented the results of Yondelis® in a compassionate use programme in patients with advanced sarcoma who had previously been treated with Yondelis®. The two end-points in this trial, disease-free progression and total survival, were particularly significant in the case of myxoid liposarcoma, retroperitoneal sarcoma and grade 1 tumours.
About PharmaMar
PharmaMar, a biotechnology company in the Zeltia Group (ZEL.MC), is the world leader in the discovery and development of anti-cancer drugs obtained from the sea. Yondelis® is Spain's first anti-cancer drug. In 2007, it was approved for sale in the European Union to treat soft tissue sarcoma. In 2009, the European Commission authorised the sale of Yondelis® (trabectedin) in combination with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin for relapsed platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer. Phase II clinical trials with Yondelis® are also under way on prostate, breast and paediatric cancers. PharmaMar has four other new compounds in clinical development. Clinical trials are under way with Aplidin®, Irvalec®, Zalypsis® and PM01183. PharmaMar also has a rich pipeline of pre-clinical candidates and a major R&D programme.
Important note
PharmaMar, which is headquartered in Madrid (Spain), is a subsidiary of Zeltia, S.A. (Spanish stock exchange: ZEL), which has been listed on the Spanish Stock Exchange since 1963 and on Spain's Electronic Market since 1998. This document is a press release, not a prospectus. This document does not constitute or form part of an offering or invitation to sell or a solicitation to purchase, offer or subscribe shares of PharmaMar or Zeltia.
Moreover, no reliance should be placed upon this document for any investment decision or contract and it does not constitute a recommendation of any type with regard to the shares of PharmaMar or Zeltia.
For more information:
Media relations (Tel. +34 91 846 60 00)
Fernando Mugarza
Capital Markets(Tel. +34 91 444 45 00)
José Luis Moreno
Florencia Radizza