According to a story from pm360online.com, the biopharmaceutical company miRagen Therapeutics, Inc., recently presented Phase I clinical trial data regarding the company’s experimental drug cobomarsen. This data was presented at this year’s 11th Annual T-Cell Lymphoma Forum, which was held from Janurary 10th-12th. Cobomarsen was tested against a number of different blood cancers, including cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma, and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The company is committed to the development of RNA targeted therapies, particularly in diseases with high unmet medical need.
Trial With Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma
In patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, 50 percent were able to achieve an objective response that lasted over four months. This response rate was the primary endpoint used in the Phase I trial and this endpoint will continue to be used in the upcoming Phase II clinical trial. The potential to apply for Accelerated Approval exists for this indication.
Trial With Adult HTLV1 Associated T-cell Leukemia/Lymphoma
The Phase I trial for adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma associated with the HTLV1 virus is still ongoing. Four patients who saw a partial response with chemotherapy have successfully maintained this response while using cobomarsen alone. Two of these patients have seen their disease remain stable for over a year. Overall, five patients in this trial have displayed evidence of disease stability.
Trial With Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma
The trial of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is still in its early stages. So far, the results are not as encouraging. Three patients with this blood cancer have been treated with cobomarsen, but only one has seen meaningful benefit. The patients who saw no response halted therapy with cobomarsen in under a month because of the lack of response.
About Cobomarsen
Cobomarsen is a drug which inhibits microRNA-155. Research has shown that microRNA-155 is present in high concentrations in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and some other blood cancers; evidence suggests that it could play a role in producing the abnormal cells that characterize these cancers. Therefore, the inhibition of microRNA-155 could help halt the progression of these blood cancers.
The development of cobomarsen is still in its early stages. It will be interesting to see if this unique inhibitor drug will be able to have a meaningful impact on patients with these blood cancers.
