Sources inform ''Globes'' that) cancer drug development incubator company, Ora Bio Ltd., has been in talks with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the company to begin Phase II trials in the US within six months. Ora Bio is based at the Jewish-Arab incubator New Generation Technology (NGT) in Nazareth.
Ora Bio implied that the FDA would probably allow the company to consolidate the US trial with the trial currently underway at Israel’s Weizmann Institute of Science, and use the same protocols. The Israeli trial is due to be completed in a few months. Final approval will be given when the company files an IND application.
Ora Bio’s drug is a small molecule that inhibits the development of new blood vessels needed for malignant tumors to grow. The drug is taken orally and in combination with chemotherapy. The drug already exists on the market, but for other treatments.
The Weizmann Institute has patented the drug in the dosages needed to treat cancer, and for use with chemotherapy. Ora Bio said that the molecule specifically targeted new blood vessels, and had few side effects.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on July 15, 2007
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2007