Neovastat--a novel antiangiogenic drug for cancer therapy.
Neovastat (AE-941) is an antiangiogenic drug isolated from marine cartilage. It interferes with several steps associated with the development of angiogenesis through its ability to induce endothelial cell apoptosis, and to inhibit matrix metalloproteinase activities and vascular endothelial growth factor-mediated signaling pathways, suggesting that Neovastat behaves as a multifunctional antiangiogenic drug. Neovastat is orally bioavailable, and shows significant antitumor and antimetastatic properties in animal models. An excellent safety profile with few side effects has been monitored in more than 800 patients who have been exposed to Neovastat, some of whom for more than 4 years. This indicates that Neovastat is suitable for long-term use, either alone or in combination with other anticancer therapies. Accordingly, Neovastat is currently under evaluation in three pivotal clinical studies with two phase III clinical trials in patients with lung and renal carcinoma, and a phase II clinical trial in patients with multiple myeloma is ongoing.
Gingras
Denis
D
Laboratoire de médecine moléculaire Hôpital Ste-Justine-UQAM, Centre de cancérologie Charles-Bruneau, Centre de Recherche de l'Hôpital Ste-Justine, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Boivin
Dominique
D
Deckers
Christophe
C
Gendron
Sébastien
S
Barthomeuf
Chantal
C
Béliveau
Richard
R
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D002356:Cartilage; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000188:drug therapy; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014020:Tissue Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D014020:Tissue Extracts; C111481:shark cartilage extract