A new biologic drug discovered by Glenmark for the treatment of Cancer
Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd has discovered a new biologics entity (NBE) for the treatment of cancer that it plans to take through clinical trials.
“GlenmarkPharmaceuticals SA (GPSA), a wholly owned subsidiary of Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd, has announced the discovery and initiation of investigational new drug (IND) enabling studies for a novel bispecific monoclonal antibody, GBR 1372, targeting EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor),” said the company in a press release.
GBR 1372, a bispecific monoclonal antibody, has the potential to target epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expressing cancer cells, Glenmark said in its press release. The company has also started the studies that will lead to the filing of an Investigational New Drug Application, with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The IND application is likely to be filed in the second half of the next financial year, Glenmark added. IND application is a standard pre-clinical development procedure.
Glenmark scientists in Switzerland have demonstrated pre-clinically that GBR 1372 has the potential to target EGFR expressing cancer cells independent of RAS-family mutations which drive resistance to current EGFR targeting drugs.
EGFR is a well-established target for lung cancer and colorectal cancer
. Glenmark is likely to file an investigational new drug application with the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) for GBR 1372 in the second half of the next financial year 2018.“We remain excited about the progress of our novel biologics pipeline,” said Glenn Saldanha, chairman and managing director of Glenmark.
Glenmark is among a few Indian companies engaged in drug discovery associated with high risk of failure. The company so far was able to develop seven new drug candidates including small molecules and biologic drugs targeting diseases such as neuro, autoimmune, pain and cancers. All the drug candidates are in various stages of clinical trials.
Shares of Glenmark rose 0.73% to close at Rs.844.80 on BSE, while the benchmark Sensex gained 1.56% to 28,978.02 points.
“We look forward to advancing GBR 1372 into clinical trial in the near future,” said Fred Grossman, Chief Medical Officer, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals.
