AMG-386, a selective angiopoietin-1/-2-neutralizing peptibody for the potential treatment of cancer

Curr Opin Mol Ther. 2010 Aug;12(4):487-95.

Abstract

The VEGF/VEGFR and angiopoietin/Tie-2 signaling pathways are important in the process of vascular endothelial growth (angiogenesis) and in the maintenance of tumor-associated blood vessels. While there are several agents targeting the VEGF/VEGFR signaling pathway, there are none available that target the angiopoietin/Tie-2 signaling pathway. The first such agent to reach clinical trials is AMG-386 (2xCon4C), being developed by Amgen Inc and licensed in Japan to Takeda Bio Development Center Ltd. AMG-386 is an anti-angiopoietin peptibody comprising a peptide with angiopoietin-binding properties that is fused to the Fc (crystallizable fragment) region of an antibody and inhibits the interaction between the ligands angiopoietin-1 and angiopoietin-2 with the Tie-2 receptor. AMG-386 significantly inhibited the growth of tumors in a variety of mouse xenograft models. In phase I trials of AMG-386 as a monotherapy or in combination with chemotherapy in patients with advanced solid tumors, AMG-386 demonstrated only mild toxicities, and one complete response and several partial responses were achieved in patients. Phase II trials of AMG-386 in combination with chemotherapy were ongoing in a variety of solid tumors, including breast, ovarian, colorectal, gastric and renal cell cancers. If safe and effective, AMG-386 could be an exciting addition to other antiangiogenic therapies in solid tumors.

MeSH terms

  • Angiopoietin-1 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Angiopoietin-2 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / adverse effects
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / therapeutic use*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacokinetics
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Contraindications
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Patents as Topic
  • Peptides / adverse effects
  • Peptides / chemical synthesis
  • Peptides / pharmacokinetics
  • Peptides / therapeutic use*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / adverse effects
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / chemical synthesis
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / pharmacokinetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / therapeutic use*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Angiopoietin-1
  • Angiopoietin-2
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Peptides
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • trebananib