Threshold Pharma Gives New Data On TH-302 And Avastin In Recurrent Glioblastoma

(RTTNews) - Biotechnology company Threshold Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (THLD) Friday announced early data from the Phase 1 portion of an investigator-sponsored Phase 1/2 trial of its investigational hypoxia-targeted drug TH-302 in combination with Avastin (bevacizumab) in patients with recurrent glioblastoma following bevacizumab failure.

The company noted that no dose-limiting toxicity has been reported to date at doses of TH-302 up to 670 mg/m2 plus bevacizumab at 10 mg/m2 every two weeks. Preliminary data in 14 patients showed TH-302 in combination with bevacizumab was associated with a median time to progression of 2.8 months. One patient achieved a complete response and two patients achieved partial responses.

The company will present the data today at the 4th Quadrennial World Federation of Neuro-Oncology meeting held in conjunction with the 18th annual 2013 Scientific Meeting and Education Day of the Society for Neuro-Oncology, San Francisco, CA.

Chemotherapy with radiotherapy is standard care for newly diagnosed glioblastoma. Bevacizumab is approved in the U.S. for progressive disease following prior therapy.

Andrew Brenner, Principal Investigator of the study, said, "These preliminary data signal that TH-302 in combination with bevacizumab may have activity in patients with glioblastoma following single-agent bevacizumab failure. We are looking forward to further evaluation of TH-302 as this study continues to enroll patients."

The ongoing phase 1/2 trial is a single-center, dose-escalation trial in patients with recurrent glioblastoma whose disease has progressed following initial combined modality treatment with radiotherapy and temozolomide and subsequent treatment with bevacizumab.