Oxford BioMedica reports that the Phase III Trist trial of its novel cancer immunotherapy, TroVax, in patients with renal cancer, has been adopted by the UK National Cancer Research Network (NCRN)
The NCRN provides the UK National Health Service (NHS) with the infrastructure to support cancer clinical trials.
The NCRN's adoption of Oxford BioMedica's Trist trial means that various NHS centres are able to participate in the study, which should facilitate rapid recruitment of patients in the UK.
The UK Department of Health established the NCRN in April 2001 and it has already succeeded in more than tripling national recruitment into cancer clinical trials.
In reaching its decision to adopt the Trist trial, the Renal Cancer Clinical Studies Group of the NCRN evaluated TroVax and the trial design, and concluded that the product offers potential improvement in patient care for the NHS.
There are no financial obligations or loss of commercial rights through NCRN's involvement.
Trist (Trovax renal immunotherapy survival trial) is a multi-centre Phase III trial of TroVax in patients with advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma.
The first patient was treated in the Trist study in November 2006.
Sites are currently open in the European Union and Eastern Europe.
Oxford BioMedica anticipates US sites to start recruiting patients shortly.
The target is to recruit 700 patients in total and the trial is expected to reach a conclusion in 2008-09, which would support the company's objective of reaching product registration in 2009.
Professor Barry Hancock, chairman of the renal clinical studies group, said: "We are very pleased to support this study.
"TroVax appears particularly well tolerated and is effective at inducing a significant immune response against a protein which marks out tumour cells.
"There is a real need for novel, safe and effective treatments for this aggressive form of cancer.
"We aim to facilitate rapid patient recruitment through the participation of our network of centres in the UK".
Mike McDonald, Oxford BioMedica's chief medical officer, commented on the NCRN news: "The involvement of NCRN in the first Phase III trial of TroVax is a strong endorsement of the product and the trial design.
"Patient recruitment is now underway in several countries but we are particularly pleased that, through the NCRN, we will have the participation of additional UK centres".
Professor Alan Kingsman, Oxford BioMedica's chief executive officer commented: "We are delighted that NCRN has adopted Trist in the UK.
"The ongoing recruitment continues to enhance the value of the TroVax portfolio as we make progress towards a deal for this exciting product."
