Biocancell Therapeutics Ltd. (TASE:BICL) today reported success in the Phase IIb clinical trial of BC-819 for the treatment of bladder cancer in patients for whom chemotherapy or Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) failed.
During safety and efficacy study, 39 patients received six weekly 20-mg dosages of BC-819, and some patients subsequently received up to nine additional treatments for nine months, until the cancer was eradicated. 25 of the 39 patients (64%) did not develop new tumors during the trial's three-month period, meeting its primary endpoint.
24 of the 31 patients (45%) who completed the 12-month study did not develop new tumors, and 12 of the 25 patients (40%) who completed the 24-month study did not develop new tumors. Over 80% of the patients showed no impairment in their function under the Karnofsky Performance Scale during the period of the study, in contrast to bladder cancer patients who receive current standard treatments.
Biocancell added that it was in talks with several big pharma companies over further development and commercialization of BC-819. P>Biocancell's share price rose 18.8% by early afternoon to NIS 1.17, giving a market cap of NIS 107 million.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on March 17, 2013
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