Tocagen plans to advance GBM gene therapy

Tocagen Inc. (San Diego, Calif.) said it plans to start a Phase II/III trial in 4Q15 of Toca 511 vocimagene amiretrorepvec and Toca FC to treat patients undergoing resection for first or second recurrence of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) or anaplastic astrocytoma. The trial will compare the combination of Toca 511 and Toca FC vs. standard of care, which includes lomustine, temozolomide or Avastin bevacizumab from the Genentech Inc. unit of Roche (SIX:ROG; OTCQX:RHHBY).

Toca 511 is a retroviral replicating vector that delivers the gene encoding cytosine deaminase (CD), an enzyme that converts the prodrug 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) into the active form 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Toca FC is an extended-release version of the oral antifungal 5-flucytosine. ...