HuMax(R)-CD20 Effective in Killing Tumor Cells With Very Low Levels of CD20
Posted on: Thursday, 2 June 2005, 03:00 CDT
COPENHAGEN, Denmark, June 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Genmab A/S announced today that in laboratory experiments HuMax-CD20 appears to induce more effective killing of targets expressing low levels of CD20 than rituximab. When low levels of CD20 are present on tumor targets, rituximab does not appear effective in killing the tumor cells. HuMax-CD20, however, is effective when CD20 is expressed at both high and very low levels.
A panel of cell lines expressing varying amounts of CD20 molecules per cell (4,500-135,000 molecules) was generated by retroviral transduction of CEM tumor cells. HuMax-CD20 appeared to be highly superior in the induction of complement-mediated lysis of cells for all CD20 expression levels as compared to rituximab. HuMax-CD20 appeared to induce significant lysis of cells at the lowest CD20 expression level tested, whereas such cells seemed resistant to rituximab. Complete lysis was achieved by HuMax-CD20 at intermediate expression levels of CD20, whereas complete lysis with rituximab was not achieved.
"These data may explain why HuMax-CD20 appears to be superior to rituximab in the killing of B-CLL cells," said Professor Jan van de Winkel, Chief Scientific Officer of Genmab.
Professor van de Winkel will present these data during his lecture "Antibody-mediated targeting of cancer" at the Dutch Tumor Immunology Meeting 2005 in Breukelen, The Netherlands today, June 2, 2005.
About HuMax-CD20
HuMax-CD20 is a human antibody currently in three ongoing Phase I/II clinical studies -- two to treat cancer involving B-cells (non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia) and one to treat patients with active rheumatoid arthritis. HuMax-CD20 is effective at binding to the disease target, and releases only very slowly from the target over time. In December 2004 Genmab presented positive data from a Phase I/II trial with patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma showing 55% of patients treated with HuMax-CD20 achieved a clinical response in the Phase I/II study, including two complete responses and one unconfirmed complete response for a 27% complete response rate. These responses were observed in 11 evaluable patients among the first 15 of the 40 patients included in this study at the week 11 evaluation point.
About Genmab A/S
Genmab A/S is a biotechnology company that creates and develops human antibodies for the treatment of life-threatening and debilitating diseases. Genmab has numerous products in development to treat cancer, infectious disease, rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory conditions, and intends to continue assembling a broad portfolio of new therapeutic products. At present, Genmab has multiple partnerships to gain access to disease targets and develop novel human antibodies including agreements with Roche and Amgen. A broad alliance provides Genmab with access to Medarex, Inc.'s array of proprietary technologies, including the UltiMAb(R) platform for the rapid creation and development of human antibodies to virtually any disease target. Genmab has operations in Copenhagen, Denmark, Utrecht, the Netherlands, and Princeton, New Jersey in the US. For more information about Genmab, visit http://www.genmab.com/.
This press release contains forward-looking statements. The words "believe,""expect,""anticipate,""intend" and "plan" and similar expressions identify forward looking statements. Actual results or performance may differ materially from any future results or performance expressed or implied by such statements. The important factors that could cause our actual results or performance to differ materially include, among others, risks associated with product discovery and development, uncertainties related to the outcome and conduct of clinical trials including unforeseen safety issues, uncertainties related to product manufacturing, the lack of market acceptance of our products, our inability to manage growth, the competitive environment in relation to our business area and markets, our inability to attract and retain suitably qualified personnel, the unenforceability or lack of protection of our patents and proprietary rights, our relationships with affiliated entities, changes and developments in technology which may render our products obsolete, and other factors. Genmab is not under an obligation to up-date statements regarding the future following the publication of this release; nor to confirm such statements in relation to actual results, unless this is required by law.
UltiMAb(R) is a trademark of Medarex, Inc.
Genmab(R); HuMax(R); HuMax-CD4(TM) and the Y-shaped Genmab logo are all registered trademarks of Genmab A/S.
Genmab A/S
CONTACT: Helle Husted of Genmab A/S, Director, Investor Relations,+45-33-44-77-30, +45-25-27-47-13 (Mobile), hth@genmab.com
Web site: http://www.genmab.com/
Source: PRNewswire-FirstCall
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