Allovectin velimogene aliplasmid: Development discontinued

Vical discontinued development of Allovectin after top-line data from the single-blind, international Phase III AIMM trial in 390 chemotherapy-naïve patients with recurrent stage III or IV metastatic melanoma showed that 2 mg intralesional Allovectin missed the primary endpoint of improving ORR at >=24 weeks and missed the secondary endpoint of improving OS vs. standard chemotherapy consisting of either dacarbazine or temozolomide. Vical has an SPA from FDA for the trial. Allovectin has Orphan Drug designation in the U.S. AnGes, which has exclusive rights to market Allovectin in Japan, China and certain other Asian countries, said it will continue to look for application of Allovectin in other cancers outside of melanoma (see BioCentury, June 5, 2006). ...