UCB plans further CDP791 development

UCB Group has announced that the phase II results from the CDP791 study show there is a case for further development.

Results have shown that there is a case for further development of CDP791 after it was found that there were positive improvements in relation to tumour response rate and time to tumour progression.

The study found that CDP791 – when used in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel chemotherapy in first line non-small cell lung cancer – led to a number of different positive improvements.

Data recorded suggests there is reason to develop a late stage clinical trial and UCB is now working on development plans.

It was found that there was a 17.7 per cent improvement in the tumour response rate, while the risk of tumour progression was reduced by some 32 per cent compared to patients receiving chemotherapy alone.

UCB also notes that initial analysis of overall survival rates indicate there is enough reason for the further development of the molecule.

CDP791 is a PEGylated, humanised di-Fab fragment which inhibits VEGFR-2 activation.

UCB focuses on three main areas of research: oncology, inflammation and CNS.