IMC-18F1

IMC-18F1 is a recombinant human monoclonal IgG1 antibody that directly targets the VEGF receptor 1 (VEGFR-1), thereby blocking binding of VEGF and inhibiting downstream VEGFR-1 signaling. It is an intravenous drug, and dosing schedules (administered weekly, every 2 weeks, or every 3 weeks) are being investigated in a Phase I trial.

This drug is under development by ImClone Systems, which was purchased by Eli Lilly in the fall of 2008. For more information at the ImClone website, link to www.imclone.com.

Quotes from ImClone: "Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (VEGFR-1) plays important roles in promotion of tumor growth by mediating cellular functions in tumor vascular endothelium and cancer cells. Blockade of VEGFR-1 activation has been shown to inhibit pathologic angiogenesis and tumor growth, implicating VEGFR-1 as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of cancer. We have thus developed a VEGFR-1 antagonist human monoclonal antibody designated as IMC-18F1 and evaluated its antitumor activity in preclinical experimental models to show the therapeutic potential of the antibody for cancer treatment in clinic."

An abstract was presented at ASCO 2008 authored by S. S. Krishnamurthi, P. M. LoRusso, P. H. Goncalves, F. Fox, E. K. Rowinsky, J. Schwartz, H. Youssoufian. Link the title to read it.
Phase 1 study of weekly anti-vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (VEGFR-1) monoclonal antibody IMC-18F1 in patients with advanced solid malignancies.

Click the following title of the ongoing clinical trial:
Safety Study of IMC-18F1,to Treat Advanced Solid Tumors in Subjects That no Longer Respond to Standard Therapy (NCT00782002)

This Phase 1 study is currently open to enrollment for patients with advanced solid malignancies in subjects that no longer respond to standard therapy. Two centers in the US are participating: Karmanos Cancer Center in Detroit Michigan and Case Western University Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio.