GTx Mum as Merck Discontinues Phase II SARM Ostarine/MK-2866

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Four months after GTx Inc. suffered a devastating FDA setback with lead program toremifene, the biotech's second program - Phase II muscle loss drug Ostarine/MK-2866 - has been discontinued by partner Merck and Co. Inc.

The news was buried deep within a 10-k Merck filed on Monday. It said the big pharma had "discontinued internal development" of Ostarine and is "discussing next steps" with GTx.

BioWorld Today
 
Four months after GTx Inc. suffered a devastating FDA setback with lead program toremifene, the biotech's second program - Phase II muscle loss drug Ostarine/MK-2866 - has been discontinued by partner Merck and Co. Inc.

The news was buried deep within a 10-k Merck filed on Monday. It said the big pharma had "discontinued internal development" of Ostarine and is "discussing next steps" with GTx.

BioWorld Today

Interesting. Trying to find out reasons why. From the article:

The drug was partnered with Merck as part of a $500 million SARM collaboration. The deal included $40 million in cash up front, $30 million in equity, $15 million in research reimbursements and $422 million in milestone payments. Additionally, Merck was covering all development costs. (See BioWorld Today, Nov. 7, 2007.)

None of the milestone payment triggers have been reached yet, Stilwell confirmed.

About a year after signing the Merck deal, GTx released data from a Phase IIb cancer cachexia trial, which showed Ostarine significantly improved lean body mass and muscle function as measured by a 12-step stair climb test, although not grip strength and gait speed. But things appeared to be moving forward: GTX said last fall that Merck was planning Phase II trials in chronic sarcopenia and muscle loss associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Those trials were never started, and now it looks as if they won't be - at least not by Merck. It is unknown whether GTx and Merck's broad SARM collaboration will continue.

Schmidt wrote in a research note that Merck's internally developed SARM, MK-0773, which was also part of the collaboration, seems to be absent from the big pharma's recently revised pipeline. He noted that the entire SARM deal "may be a causality of Merck's merger with Schering Plough."

Which isn't to say that, if Merck backed out of the collaboration, GTx wouldn't find another partner. The biotech said several parties were interested when it was originally shopping the program back in 2007.

Nothing really from the MRK 10-k except that another SARM (MK-2866) is likely also discontinued:

Also in 2007, Old Merck and GTx, Inc. (“GTx”) entered into an agreement providing for a research and development and global strategic collaboration for selective androgen receptor modulators (“SARMs”), a new class of drugs with the potential to treat age-related muscle loss (sarcopenia) as well as other musculoskeletal conditions. Merck has discontinued internal development of MK-2866 (which is a SARM) under this agreement, and is currently discussing next steps with GTx. [...] These collaborations generally continue in effect until the expiration of all royalty and milestone payment obligations. These collaborations may generally be terminated in the event of insolvency or a material uncured breach by either party. Additionally, the collaboration agreement between Merck and GTx may be terminated by Merck upon 90 days notice to GTx at any time after December 18, 2009.

e10vk
 
This is a very interesting and intriguing development. It sounds like that need an AIH treatment or maybe a 2/4 program.
 
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I dont understand the toremifene issue. That drug is aleady in use, is it not.?? I have seen it avialable for sale. Faraston (toremifene) is a SERM. The thing I found interesting was that it shrank the prostate in testing. Should we stock up[:o)]?

GTx. Toremifene 20 mg: Investigational Therapy for Prostate Cancer Prevention in High Risk Patients

There is an interesting link. But I also noticed that the link that I sent Conciliator the other day to the manufacturer's web site prescribing info is no longer comming up readily on google search...:rolleyes:

Toremifene 20 mg: Investigational Therapy for Prostate Cancer Prevention in High Risk Patients
GTx is evaluating toremifene citrate 20 mg, a selective estrogen receptor modulator, or SERM, for the prevention of prostate cancer in high-risk men.

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men in the United States, with an expected 30,000 deaths each year.1 One of the determinants of a patient’s risk for developing prostate cancer, independent of age, race and family history, is the presence of the precancerous lesion called high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN). More than 40% of high grade PIN patients will progress to prostate cancer within three years of diagnosis and up to 80% within eight years.2,3 With no FDA approved therapies for high grade PIN today, the standard of care for these patients is to continue to monitor the progression of high grade PIN to cancer through serial prostate biopsies.



Prostate cancer is a hormonally mediated disease, and both testosterone and estrogen are required for its development and progression. GTx believes that by selectively blocking estrogen receptors that are responsible for prostate cell proliferation, toremifene 20 mg may be an ideal antiestrogen for chemoprevention of prostate cancer.

Phase III Clinical Trial
GTx is conducting a pivotal Phase III clinical trial evaluating toremifene 20 mg for the prevention of prostate cancer in men with high grade PIN. The primary endpoint of the study is a reduction in the incidence of prostate cancer. GTx plans to conduct the final analyses of the clinical trial following the conclusion of the study in the 1st quarter of 2010.

References
1. American Cancer Society, American Cancer Society :: Information and Resources for Cancer: Breast, Colon, Prostate, Lung and Other Forms
2. Huang G et al J Urol 2005, 173:397.
3. Fleshner et al Presented at ASCO 2005 Prostate Cancer Symposium. Available at ASCO Virtual Lecture. Accessed online January 26, 2009.
 
And I was wondering who GTx was. Apparently they are some bastard offshoot of Merck designed to safely self-destruct when things fall apart.

Here are the listed studies and note the number of them that were dicontinued....?



Rank Status Study
1 Terminated Treatment and Survival Continuation Study of Atamestane Plus Toremifene vs Letrozole in Advanced Breast Cancer Conditions: Breast Neoplasms; Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent
Interventions: Drug: Atamestane; Drug: toremifene; Drug: letrozole

2 Completed The Effect of Toremifene Treatment to the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Findings in Premenstrual Mastalgia Condition: Breast Pain
Interventions: Drug: toremifene; Drug: placebo

3 Terminated The CAT Study: Atamestane Plus Toremifene Versus Letrozole in Advanced Breast Cancer Conditions: Breast Neoplasms; Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent
Interventions: Drug: Atamestane; Drug: Toremifene; Drug: Letrozole; Drug: Aromatase inhibition; Drug: Estrogen receptor blocker; Procedure: Hormone therapy; Procedure: Endocrine therapy; Procedure: Antiestrogen therapy

4 Active, not recruiting Prostate Cancer Prevention Study for Men With High Grade PIN (Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia) Conditions: Preneoplastic Conditions; Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia
Intervention: Drug: toremifene citrate

5 Terminated Toremifene With or Without Atamestane in Treating Postmenopausal Women With Metastatic Breast Cancer Condition: Breast Cancer
Interventions: Drug: atamestane; Drug: toremifene

6 Active, not recruiting Toremifene in Treating Patients With Desmoid Tumors Condition: Desmoid Tumor
Interventions: Drug: toremifene; Procedure: conventional surgery

7 Completed Toremifene in Treating Patients With Ovarian Cancer Condition: Ovarian Cancer
Intervention: Drug: toremifene

8 Completed Toremifene Followed by Radical Prostatectomy in Treating Patients With Stage I or Stage II Prostate Cancer Condition: Prostate Cancer
Interventions: Drug: toremifene; Procedure: conventional surgery; Procedure: neoadjuvant therapy

9 Completed Phase III Study of Atamestane Plus Toremifene Versus Letrozole in Advanced Breast Cancer Conditions: Breast Neoplasms; Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent
Interventions: Drug: atamestane; Drug: toremifene; Drug: letrozole; Drug: aromatase inhibition; Procedure: hormone therapy; Procedure: endocrine therapy; Procedure: antiestrogen therapy

10 Completed Toremifene Citrate for Prevention of Bone Fractures in Men With Prostate Cancer on Androgen Deprivation Therapy Conditions: Prostate Cancer; Osteoporosis; Fractures
Intervention: Drug: Toremifene Citrate

11 Enrolling by invitation Extended Adjuvant Treatment With Letrozole in Breast Cancer Who Complete 5 Years of Toremifene Condition: Breast Cancer
Intervention: Drug: Letrozole

12 Recruiting Antiestrogen vs Aromatase Inhibitor After Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer Condition: Breast Neoplasms
Interventions: Drug: Toremifene citrate; Drug: Anastrozole

13 Active, not recruiting Hormone Therapy and Chemotherapy in Treating Perimenopausal or Postmenopausal Women With Node-Positive Breast Cancer Condition: Breast Cancer
Interventions: Drug: cyclophosphamide; Drug: doxorubicin hydrochloride; Drug: epirubicin hydrochloride; Drug: tamoxifen citrate; Drug: toremifene; Radiation: low-LET cobalt-60 gamma ray therapy; Radiation: low-LET photon therapy

14 Completed A Chemoprevention Study of an Investigational Drug in Men With High Grade Prostate Intraepithelial Neoplasia (PIN) Condition: Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia
Intervention: Drug: GTX-006 (Acapodene)




Save this search by
 
And I was wondering who GTx was. Apparently they are some bastard offshoot of Merck designed to safely self-destruct when things fall apart.

Here are the listed studies and note the number of them that were dicontinued....?

Save this search by


Interesting, this might be a unique and good way to evaluate a company. I do not know. Are these from www.clinicaltrials.gov?
 
Yes, that was a search at that site for the name toremifene. It gives further reference numbers, but I could not see the study details. It was difficult beyound that list/ Or maybe just need to know how to go further. Not enought time then...


Interesting, this might be a unique and good way to evaluate a company. I do not know. Are these from Home - ClinicalTrials.gov
 
GTx Provides Corporate Update and Reports 2009 Financial Results
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/GTx-Provides-Corporate-Update-bw-3047878580.html?x=0&.v=1

• Reacquires SARM program and plans Ostarine™ Phase III clinical trials for cancer cachexia
• Held End of Review meeting with FDA for toremifene 80 mg
• Announces last patient completed toremifene 20 mg Phase III high grade PIN clinical trial in February
• Initiates Phase II clinical trial for GTx-758 for first line treatment of advanced prostate cancer


MEMPHIS, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GTx, Inc. (Nasdaq: GTXI -News) today provided a company update and reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2009.

“Following the Complete Response Letter last fall, GTx and our European partner, Ipsen, met with the FDA in December. We believe that there is a path forward for the approval of toremifene 80 mg,” said Mitchell S. Steiner, MD, CEO of GTx.

As for the reacquisition of Ostarine™ and the GTx selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) program, Dr. Steiner continued: “It was a difficult decision to dissolve our SARM collaboration with Merck. GTx’s near term objective is to generate revenue so that we can transition to a self-sustaining company. Reacquiring Ostarine moves us toward this objective by allowing us to advance our lead SARM into Phase III clinical studies in cancer cachexia which is a large commercial opportunity for our company and a critical unmet medical need for cancer patients.”

• GTx reacquires full rights to Ostarine and rest of SARM program and plans to advance Ostarine into Phase III clinical trials

GTx has reacquired full rights to Ostarine and its entire SARM program following the mutual agreement by GTx and Merck to dissolve their SARM collaboration. GTx is planning to pursue Phase III clinical development of Ostarine for the treatment of cancer cachexia. GTx completed a successful Phase IIb Ostarine clinical trial for cancer cachexia in October 2008 and now plans to have an End of Phase II meeting with the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to discuss the Ostarine Phase III clinical development program.

Ostarine is an oral agent that has demonstrated the ability to increase lean body mass and improve muscle strength and performance in postmenopausal women, elderly men, and men and women with cancer cachexia. Ostarine is GTx’s lead SARM which has been studied in seven Phase I, Phase II, and Phase IIb clinical trials in 582 subjects.

• GTx provides update on End of Review meeting with FDA

The company announced in November 2009 the receipt of a Complete Response Letter from the FDA for the toremifene 80 mg New Drug Application. In December, GTx and its European Partner, Ipsen Biopharm Limited, met with FDA to better understand the two issues cited in the Complete Response Letter. Based on this End of Review FDA meeting, GTx and Ipsen have concluded that there is a path forward to obtain approval for toremifene 80 mg to reduce fractures in men with prostate cancer on ADT. GTx will provide additional details following further discussions with the FDA.

• Toremifene 20 mg Phase III high grade PIN clinical trial results expected this summer

In late February, the last patient completed the Phase III clinical trial evaluating toremifene 20 mg for the prevention of prostate cancer in high risk men with high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN). GTx has begun the operational steps to conclude the study and expects to announce results this summer. If successful, GTx would move forward with plans to submit a New Drug Application.

• Initiation of the Phase II clinical trial evaluating GTx-758

In late February, GTx initiated a Phase II clinical trial evaluating GTx-758, an oral luteinizing hormone (LH) inhibitor, for the first line treatment of advanced prostate cancer. The GTx-758 Phase II clinical trial is evaluating multiple doses of GTx-758 in 70 males. GTx expects to obtain the results from the clinical trial in the second half of 2010.

Financial highlights for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2009

The net loss for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2009 was $10.9 million and $46.3 million, respectively, compared to $13.9 million and $51.8 million for the same periods in the prior year. Revenue for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2009 was $3.7 million and $14.7 million, respectively, compared to $3.0 million and $13.5 million for the same periods in 2008.

Revenue for the fourth quarter of 2009 included collaboration income of $2.8 million related to our collaborations with Merck and Ipsen, and $862,000 of net sales of FARESTON® (toremifene citrate) 60 mg, marketed for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer in postmenopausal women. Revenue for the year ended December 31, 2009 included collaboration income of $11.4 million from Merck and Ipsen and $3.3 million of net sales of FARESTON®.

Research and development expenses for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2009 were $8.2 million and $32.3 million, respectively, compared to $10.6 million and $44.3 million for the same periods in 2008. General and administrative expenses for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2009 were $6.3 million and $27.7 million, respectively, compared to $6.3 million and $23.1 million for the same periods in 2008.

At December 31, 2009, GTx had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $49.0 million.
 
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