Abbott presentation to explore cancer drug candidates

Abbott has announced that it is to present data regarding two of its drug candidates for the treatment of cancer at the annual meeting for the American Association for Cancer Research currently being held in Los Angeles.

The first drug candidate included in the presentation is known as ABT-263, an orally bioavailable Bcl-2 family protein inhibitor, with a talk also given on a paediatric preclinical testing programme evaluation of the compound.

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (Parp) inhibitor ABT-888 is the other drug candidate to be discussed at the meeting, with presentations regarding anti-tumour activity of temozolomide in the B16F10 syngenic melanoma model and the compound’s enhancing of anti-tumour activities in vivo of chemotherapeutic agents.

Stephen Fesik, divisional vice-president of cancer research at Abbott, said: “There is particular excitement from the scientific community surrounding Abbott’s Bcl-2 family protein inhibitors which block the action of a class of proteins that regulate apoptosis.”

He added that many researchers worldwide are studying this family of protein inhibitors with some of these researchers giving comments on their work at the annual meeting.

Last week, Abbott announced the opening of a biologics manufacturing site in Puerto Rico to produce its leading compound Humira (adalimumab) and other biological agents.