OncoMed Pharmaceuticals Presents New Data at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium

OncoMed Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:OMED) presented new data at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), relating to the development of a novel predictive biomarker for vantictumab (anti-Fzd7, OMP-18R5).
According to the press release:

The presentation at SABCS detailed the identification and validation of a novel six-gene signature assay being evaluated as a predictive biomarker of response to vantictumab plus paclitaxel in the treatment of breast cancer.  Vantictumab is being studied in three Phase 1b combination clinical trials, including one with paclitaxel in patients with Her2-negative breast cancer.
“The research presented today is one example of OncoMed’s efforts to identify biomarkers early and aggressively that can be evaluated alongside our therapeutic candidates in order to optimize treatment regimens and patient outcomes,” said John Lewicki, Ph.D. Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer of OncoMed.  “In preclinical testing, the six-gene biomarker assay has been strongly predictive of anti-tumor responses to treatment with vantictumab in Her2-negative breast cancers.  If these results are corroborated in our ongoing clinical study of vantictumab in breast cancer, it will provide an excellent opportunity to develop a companion diagnostic and tailor vantictumab use to patients with the highest likelihood of benefit.”
The six-gene Wnt pathway-related biomarker was identified by using gene expression data from breast cancer xenografts in OncoMed’s patient-derived tumor bank with established in vivo response to vantictumab plus standard-of-care.  The six-gene signature was tested in 18 xenograft models and effectively predicted anti-tumor responses to treatment.  The biomarker was developed as a robust qPCR assay and validated with repeatability studies conducted across different days and in different labs.  Prevalence of the six-gene signature is estimated to be approximately 43 percent in Her2-negative patients.  In collaboration with Almac Diagnostics, the assay has been successfully developed and is being deployed in OncoMed’s ongoing Phase 1b study of vantictumab in Her2-negative breast cancer.

 
Click here to read the full press release.