Polaris Group Announces Treatment of First Patient in Phase 1 Study of ADI-PEG 20 plus Pemetrexed and Cisplatin in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma And Non-Squamous Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Polaris Group announced today that the first patient has been dosed in its Phase 1 trial of ADI-PEG 20 in combination with pemetrexed and cisplatin for the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) and non-squamous non-small cell lung carcinoma.  Polaris Group is conducting clinical trials on ADI-PEG 20, both as monotherapy and in combination with other agents, for the treatment of several other indications, including breast cancer, melanomas, ovarian cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The latter indication is currently in a global Phase 3 study featuring ADI-PEG 20 as a monotherapy.

"Data from a previous randomized Phase 2 trial of ADI-PEG 20 as a monotherapy for the treatment of MPM showed that ADI-PEG 20 significantly reduced risk of progression for patients with mesothelioma," said John Bomalaski, M.D., Executive Vice President of Medical Affairs at Polaris. "We hope that ADI-PEG 20 in combination with pemetrexed and cisplatin will provide further benefit to patients in this trial."

About ADI-PEG 20

ADI-PEG 20 is a biologic being developed by Polaris Group to treat cancers, especially those carrying a major metabolic defect that renders such cancer cells, unlike normal cells, unable to internally synthesize arginine. Because arginine is one of the 20 amino acids that are essential for protein synthesis and survival of cells, it is believed these cancer cells become dependent upon the external supply of arginine to survive and grow. ADI-PEG 20 is designed to systemically deplete the external supply of arginine, which causes arginine-dependent cancer cells to die while leaving the patient's normal cells unharmed. Multiple cancers have been reported to have a high degree of arginine-dependency.

About Polaris Group

Polaris Group is a privately held biopharmaceutical company that specializes in the research and development of protein drugs to treat cancer and other debilitating diseases. The company's lead therapeutic, ADI-PEG 20, is currently being evaluated in a pivotal Phase 3 trial for hepatocellular carcinoma. Polaris Group is also investigating ADI-PEG 20 as a treatment for other cancers, such as leukemia, lymphoma, melanoma, mesothelioma, non-small cell lung cancers, sarcoma, breast, ovarian, and pancreatic cancer. In addition to the ADI-PEG 20 program, Polaris Group is researching and developing other biotherapeutic agents and is advancing a small molecule drug program that utilizes a rational structure-based approach to design novel compounds that inhibit the biological function of cancer-related protein targets.

For additional information please visit www.polarispharma.com

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SOURCE Polaris Group

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