ProteoMedix Biomarkers tested in a clinical trial

The objective of the Phase II trial of single-agent everolimus (Afinitor, made by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation) in chemotherapy-naive patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer was to evaluate everolimus, an inhibitor of mTOR, in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), and to explore potentially predictive serum biomarkers by proteomics.

In the study, the concentration of ProteoMediX’ PI3K pathway sensitive biomarkers was measured in blood of 28 chemotherapy-naive patients with mCRPC and progressive disease. 13 patients thereof reached the primary endpoint which was progression-free survival (PFS) at 12 weeks. Interestingly, higher serum levels of several of ProteoMediX’ proprietary biomarkers were predictive for reaching the primary endpoint.

As a conclusion of this study the trial chairperson Arnoud Templeton, M.D., states: ”Everolimus activity in unselected patients with mCRPC is moderate, but PTEN deletion could be predictive for response.” Several protein biomarkers were able to predict PFS at 12 weeks. These results may represent one step forward in the direction of creating target-driven subgroups in CRPC that may derive benefit from a specific treatment. Prospective validation of these potential bio-markers is warranted.

Dr. Ralph Schiess, CEO and co-founder commented: “Publication of these exciting results in the high impact journal European Urology underscores the importance of the data. We are confident that we can further validate our biomarkers for the use of patient stratification.”

ProteoMediX AG is a spinoff company of ETH Zurich located at the BioTechnopark in Schlieren near Zurich, Switzerland. The company was founded in 2010 and awarded several important prizes.