Novotech initiates cancer trials in Australia and New Zealand for Oncomed Pharmaceuticals
October 29, 2010
NOVOTECH INITIATES PHASE IB CANCER TRIALS IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND FOR CLIENT, ONCOMED PHARMACEUTICALS
Sydney, Australia, 29 October 2010 – Novotech has announced initiation of three Phase Ib oncology trials at sites in Australia and New Zealand to test the safety, efficacy and pharmacokinetics of client OncoMed’s humanized monoclonal antibody product designed to target cancer stem cells.
Novotech, a leading Australian contract research organization, employing cutting edge technologies in electronic data capture and clinical trial management systems, will manage the trials for OncoMed.
Three separate trials will recruit patients with pancreatic cancer, advanced colorectal cancer, and non- squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Dr. Steve Benner, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, a Redwood City, California based biotechnology company said Novotech was appointed for its local regulatory knowledge and site selection and data management expertise. “We have been very impressed with our colleagues at Novotech and look forward to collaborating closely with them on these important trials,” said Dr. Benner.
Novotech CEO Alek Safarian said the Novotech team, has initiated the trials and enrollment has begun. OncoMed Pharmaceuticals is a US-based clinical-stage company that discovers and develops novel therapeutics targeting cancer stem cells, the cells believed to be capable of driving tumor growth, recurrence and metastases. A leader in cancer stem cell research, the company has established a library of antibodies to cancer stem cell proteins associated with tumors such as pancreatic, breast, colorectal and lung cancers. OncoMed’s lead candidate, OMP-21M18 is currently in Phase Ib clinical trials and has a pipeline of several preclinical product candidates targeting multiple cancer stem cell pathways.
About Novotech
Headquartered in Sydney with a regional hub in Malaysia, Novotech is focused on the Asia Pacific region with operations in nine countries including India and South Korea. Novotech also has worldwide reach through the company’s network of strategic partners. Novotech, described by Frost & Sullivan as the best in its industry class for Australia based CROs, brings its global reputation for high quality service and regional expertise to the high-growth Asia Pacific area. As the largest independent CRO based in Australia, Novotech offers a level of flexibility and local knowledge that is unmatched among other contract research organizations in the region. Since 2006, Novotech has been recognized as Australia’s leading CRO by Frost & Sullivan in its Asia Pacific Excellence in Healthcare awards. For more information, please visit www.novotech-cro.com.