19 JUNE 2007
Patients begin enrolling in studies to determine if women with BRCA 1 & 2 positive cancer may receive greater benefit from new treatment
Alderley Park, UK, 19 June, 2007 – AstraZeneca (NYSE: AZN) today announced the start of two Phase II trials for a new compound being tested to treat patients with BRCA 1 & 2 positive breast and ovarian cancer. Myriad Genetics, Inc. (Nasdaq: MYGN, www.myriad.com), is providing the molecular diagnostic testing (BRACAnalysis™) for these trials.
The ICEBERG (International Collaborative Expertise for BRCA Education and Research through Genetics) studies are intended to evaluate the ability of AZD2281 (KU-0059436), a PARP (poly-ADP-ribose polymerase) inhibitor, to treat patients with breast cancer or ovarian cancer associated with an inherited mutation in one of the cancer genes, BRCA1 or BRCA2.
The BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are involved in DNA repair and when this function is lost due to a mutation, cells are unable to repair breaks in DNA. Research has shown that women who inherit faults in either the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes are predisposed to a higher incidence of breast and ovarian cancer. It is hypothesised that PARP inhibitors work by inhibiting DNA repair in the BRCA deficient tumour cells, thereby overloading these cells with DNA damage and selectively killing these cells. The trials will evaluate the extent of patient response to the treatment and time to disease progression amongst other indicators of clinical benefit.
Lead Investigator for the trials, Dr Andrew Tutt, clinician scientist at the Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Centre and breast oncologist at Guy’s Hospital, London, said: “Having demonstrated the potential of PARP inhibitors through lab work carried out at the Breakthrough Research Centre, we hope these trials will help us confirm the results in the clinic, leading to the development of a targeted treatment for this type of cancer.”
Gregory Critchfield, M.D., President of Myriad Genetic Laboratories, Inc. added “There is enormous potential for patient benefit from the synergy between the molecular diagnosis of breast or ovarian cancer and a specific, targeted therapeutic. Myriad’s BRACAnalysis™ test is a highly sensitive proven method for finding mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2. The individuals with breast or ovarian cancer who carry these mutations are candidates for the PARP inhibitor therapy approach. It may become more important than ever to know whether a patient with breast or ovarian cancer is BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation positive.”
For further information, please contact:
Carrie Deverell, Global Public Relations Manager
AstraZeneca
Mobile: +44 (0) 7920845108
carrie.deverell@astrazeneca.com
The ICEBERG (International Collaborative Expertise for BRCA Education and Research through Genetics) studies are intended to evaluate the ability of AZD2281 (KU-0059436), a PARP (poly-ADP-ribose polymerase) inhibitor, to treat patients with breast cancer or ovarian cancer associated with an inherited mutation in one of the cancer genes, BRCA1 or BRCA2.
The BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are involved in DNA repair and when this function is lost due to a mutation, cells are unable to repair breaks in DNA. Research has shown that women who inherit faults in either the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes are predisposed to a higher incidence of breast and ovarian cancer. It is hypothesised that PARP inhibitors work by inhibiting DNA repair in the BRCA deficient tumour cells, thereby overloading these cells with DNA damage and selectively killing these cells. The trials will evaluate the extent of patient response to the treatment and time to disease progression amongst other indicators of clinical benefit.
Lead Investigator for the trials, Dr Andrew Tutt, clinician scientist at the Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Centre and breast oncologist at Guy’s Hospital, London, said: “Having demonstrated the potential of PARP inhibitors through lab work carried out at the Breakthrough Research Centre, we hope these trials will help us confirm the results in the clinic, leading to the development of a targeted treatment for this type of cancer.”
Gregory Critchfield, M.D., President of Myriad Genetic Laboratories, Inc. added “There is enormous potential for patient benefit from the synergy between the molecular diagnosis of breast or ovarian cancer and a specific, targeted therapeutic. Myriad’s BRACAnalysis™ test is a highly sensitive proven method for finding mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2. The individuals with breast or ovarian cancer who carry these mutations are candidates for the PARP inhibitor therapy approach. It may become more important than ever to know whether a patient with breast or ovarian cancer is BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation positive.”
For further information, please contact:
Carrie Deverell, Global Public Relations Manager
AstraZeneca
Mobile: +44 (0) 7920845108
carrie.deverell@astrazeneca.com
