BOTHELL – Northwest Biotherapeutics plans to restart patient tests for at least two of its experimental cancer treatments, a clear sign of revival from the company’s near-closure less than a year ago.
The small biotechnology firm announced late Monday night that the Food and Drug Administration has approved new tests on DCVax-Prostate, a potential treatment for prostate cancer.
Alton Boynton, the Bothell firm’s co-founder and president, said the milestone is important not only to the company but also to patients who may benefit.
“We are, to say the least, very pleased by the FDA clearance of this phase-3 clinical trial and the ability to now get back into the clinic with what we believe is a promising immunotherapy approach for not only prostate cancer patients but also other cancers,” Boynton said in an e-mail from Tokyo, where he was traveling Tuesday.
DCVax-Prostate, the company’s lead product, uses dendritic cells – specialized white blood cells that stimulate the immune system to fight cancer cells – to specifically target tumors. The treatment has no known toxic side effects, unlike chemotherapy, and may be particularly useful for patients with early stage cancer, Boynton explained.
In fall 2002, Northwest Biotherapeutics shut down a similar late-stage test for the prostate treatment in order to conserve money.
The new test of the prostate cancer drug is expected to involve about 600 patients in dozens of sites across the United States. The company gave no predicted starting date.
Already in the planning stages for later this year, however, is a phase-2 trial for DCVax-Brain, which could help to fight the most lethal form of brain cancer. The company added that it also has completed pre-clinical work on similar treatments aimed at lung, head and neck cancers.
That outlook is infinitely brighter than what the company faced at this time last year. That’s when the company’s chief executive officer resigned and, by April, Boynton warned investors that the company was within days of shutting its doors.
Maryland-based Toucan Capital Corp., a venture capital provider, stepped up in late April and has promised financing of up to $40 million. In return, Toucan will end up owning most of the company’s stock.
Northwest Biotherapeutics’ shares, which has traded for only a few pennies, went up 86 percent, or 3 cents, on Tuesday to close at just under 7 cents a share.
Reporter Eric Fetters: 425-339-3453 or fetters@heraldnet.com.
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