May 25, 2010 - • Avila’s oral, small molecule program targets cancer-causing mutant forms of the EGF receptor (EGFR)
• Innovative treatment approach for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with disease resistant to current therapy
• Potency against key disease mutation, T790M, while minimizing activity against the wild-type (normal) EGFR to increase therapeutic index and avoid side effects of current standard of care
• Clovis to lead accelerated clinical development plan including companion diagnostic to prospectively identify T790M-positive NSCLC patients -
• Innovative treatment approach for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with disease resistant to current therapy
• Potency against key disease mutation, T790M, while minimizing activity against the wild-type (normal) EGFR to increase therapeutic index and avoid side effects of current standard of care
• Clovis to lead accelerated clinical development plan including companion diagnostic to prospectively identify T790M-positive NSCLC patients -
Clovis Oncology, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on acquiring, developing and commercializing innovative anti-cancer agents, and Avila Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company designing targeted covalent drugs, announced an agreement for the development and commercialization of Avila’s epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutant-selective inhibitor (EMSI) program, currently in pre-clinical development for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
The EMSI program targets the T790M mutant form of the EGFR associated with clinical resistance to Tarceva® (erlotinib) and Iressa® (gefitinib)i, as well as targeting the initial activating EGFR mutations, including L858R and exon 19 deletions. It does so while also sparing the wild-type (normal) EGFR and may thus treat refractory NSCLC while minimizing dose-limiting side effects. Because the program targets both the sensitive activating mutations as well as the primary resistance mechanism, T790M, it has the potential to treat both first- and second-line NSCLC patients with EGFR mutations, for whom there is great unmet medical need... [PDF] Clovis Oncology's Press Release - [PDF] Avila Therapeutics' Press Release -
The EMSI program targets the T790M mutant form of the EGFR associated with clinical resistance to Tarceva® (erlotinib) and Iressa® (gefitinib)i, as well as targeting the initial activating EGFR mutations, including L858R and exon 19 deletions. It does so while also sparing the wild-type (normal) EGFR and may thus treat refractory NSCLC while minimizing dose-limiting side effects. Because the program targets both the sensitive activating mutations as well as the primary resistance mechanism, T790M, it has the potential to treat both first- and second-line NSCLC patients with EGFR mutations, for whom there is great unmet medical need... [PDF] Clovis Oncology's Press Release - [PDF] Avila Therapeutics' Press Release -
