Abbott to Present Data on Novel Cancer Treatments at American Society of Clinical Oncology Annu...( Studies Show ABT-263 and ABT-869 to b...),Health

Studies Show ABT-263 and ABT-869 to be Promising in Targeting Cancer Cells'

Underlying Mechanisms

ABBOTT PARK, Ill., May 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Abbott scientists will highlight the latest clinical trial data of several investigative compounds in the company's oncology pipeline at this year's American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, scheduled for May 30 in Chicago. The presentations include ABT-263, a Bcl-2 family protein antagonist, and ABT-869, an oral small molecule that provides simultaneously potent and specific inhibition of the VEGFR and PDGFR families. Both compounds were discovered by Abbott scientists and are being co-developed by Abbott and Genentech. The company's meeting abstracts are available online today at http://www.asco.org.

By targeting a key survival mechanism of cancer cells, Abbott scientists identified ABT-263 as a potent inhibitor of Bcl-2 family proteins. The Bcl-2 family proteins regulate apoptosis (programmed cell death), the natural process by which damaged or unwanted cells die and are cleared from the body. When this process is defective, damaged cells can continue to divide, leading to the formation and growth of tumors. Preclinical studies showed promising activity against chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), lymphomas and small cell lung cancer -- Phase I/II trials are currently underway in these diseases.

Additionally, Abbott scientists are targeting another vital characteristic of cancer cells with ABT-869. In early studies, data have shown that ABT-869 inhibits a distinct set of kinases that are involved in angiogenesis, a process by which tumors gain access to new blood vessels. Inhibition of these kinases may suppress tumor growth by cutting off tumor blood supply. ABT-869 is currently being tested against several tumor types in Phase II clinical trials.

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