Eli Lilly presents studies at AACR meeting

Eli Lilly is currently presenting over a dozen studies at the annual meeting for the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), with the bulk of these studies focused on the use of biomarkers and other pharmacogenomic information to improve available treatment options.

Biomarkers are genetic indicators that can be used to predict patient response to individual therapies. The studies presented at the meeting include those relating to Alimta (pemetrexed for injection), Gemzar (gemcitabine HCl for injection) enzastaurin and other compounds.

Almita, a treatment for malignant pleural mesothelioma and second-line non-small cell lung cancer, is currently being assessed in a number of phase III clinical trials, while Gemzar is approved for the treatment of breast cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, ovarian cancer and pancreatic cancer.

Enzastaurin is an orally-administered investigational serine threonine kinase inhibitor that targets the P13/AKT and PKC-(beta) signalling pathways.

Richard Gaynore, vice-president of cancer research and global oncology platform leader at Lilly, said: “The goal of the Lilly oncology research programme is to investigate our current medications and those in our pipeline to find the right medication ad the right dose at the right time for patients.”

He added that the firm shared the dedication of the AACR regarding the use of novel research to speed up the search to treat cancer.

In October 2006, Lilly announced the initiation of a phase III clinical trial of Alimta as a treatment for small-cell lung cancer.