Oncoscience AG presents results from Phase III study of Nimotuzumab (Theraloc®) in patients with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma at the 41. SIOP, Sao Paulo, Brazil, October 6th-9th, 2009

On Friday October 9th, 2009 results from the Phase III study of the monoclonal antibody Nimotuzumab were presented.

At the world’ s convention for pediatric oncology in Sao Paulo data were presented that show that Nimotuzumab in combination with radiotherapy achieves comparable results in patients with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma as
combination of aggressive chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The results do however differ significantly in the much lower side-effect profile observed with the Nimotuzumab treatment.

Children are able to stay at home, even attending school or kindergarten while undergoing antibody therapy. Response to study treatment after 24 weeks was 75%. Median survival of all patients was
recorded at 9,6 months, where responders had a median survival of 11,4 months.

After one year 34% of patients were still alive.
The results from this first-line therapy study are consistent with the excellent response rate for recurrent patients (ASCO 2008) and serve to further confirm the excellent tolerability of Nimotuzumab compared to aggressive chemotherapy, absence of side-effects commonly associated for other monoclonal antibodies and diarrhoea or exanthema caused by concomitant medications.

The results from this first-line therapy study are consistent with the excellent response rate for recurrent patients (ASCO 2008) and serve to further confirm the excellent tolerability of Nimotuzumab compared to aggressive chemotherapy, as well as absence of side-effects commonly associated for other EGFR – monoclonal antibodies like diarrhoea or drug related exanthema.