Bayer Schering Pharma AG, Germany, recently entered into a global agreement with Algeta ASA, Oslo, Norway for the development and commercialization of Alpharadin, a novel alpha-emitting radiopharmaceutical, based on radium-223. Alpharadin is currently being evaluated in a global Phase III trial for the treatment of bone metastases in symptomatic hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC) patients. Three Phase II trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of Alpharadin will be presented at ECCO-ESMO, including an oral presentation on the results from a 122-patient efficacy and safety study designed to compare the prostate cancer specific antigen (PSA) response rate of three different repeat doses of Alpharadin. (Abstract 7003, Monday, September 21, 11:45 a.m. CET, Hall 3)

Nexavar's Differentiated Mechanism

Nexavar targets both the tumor cell and tumor vasculature. In preclinical studies, Nexavar has been shown to target members of two classes of kinases known to be involved in both cell proliferation (growth) and angiogenesis (blood supply) - two important processes that enable cancer growth. These kinases included Raf kinase, VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2, VEGFR-3, PDGFR-B, KIT, FLT-3 and RET.

Nexavar is currently approved in more than 80 countries for the treatment of patients with liver cancer and in more than 90 countries for the treatment of patients with advanced kidney cancer. Nexavar is also being evaluated by the companies, international study groups, government agencies and individual investigators as a single agent or combination treatment in a wide range of cancers, including breast cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, and as an adjuvant therapy for kidney cancer and liver cancer.

Source: bayer