ZymoGenetics reports “promising” Phase I results

ZymoGenetics has reported positive interim data for a Phase I trial for its Interleukin 21 (IL-21) in combination with Nexavar (sorafenib) in patients with renal cell cancer.

Initial results show that the combination of IL-21 and Nexavar demonstrates promising anti-tumour activity and is well tolerated by patients with its toxicity profile close to the toxicities of the individual agents.

Nicole Onetto, senior vice president and chief medical officer of ZymoGenetics, confirmed that the preliminary data showed IL-21 to be an “ideal potential candidate” for combination with other targeted agents in renal cell cancer therapy.

Commenting on the data, she added: “The majority of patients treated to date experience tumour shrinkage. The Phase II part of this trial should allow us to confirm these promising results.”

The results were presented at the International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics held in San Francisco.

A total of 13 patients have taken part in the Phase I study, all of which have been administered either 10, 30 or 50mcg/kg of IL-21.

Earlier this month, ZymoGenetics and partner Merck Serono mutually announced that they had come to an agreement with the US Food and Drug Administration on a Special Protocol Assessment for an atacicept clinical trial.