Interesting timing of article post CHF story

[Guest guest]

Hi folks,

See the article below from an Australian paper called the Herald Sun.

The timing of this article is very interesting...... One day, ONE DAY

after an inconclusive study about CHF and inhibition of abl by Gleevec

and...... BAM, Chemgenex is at the ready with a story about their new

potential CML offering.

What interests me is that the information about the possibility of CHF

was identified but not in the public domain in Sept, 2005. The

hematological-oncology world was made aware as it should have been at

that time. Further, in December 2005 many remaining Gleevec trial

patients had to sign a renewed form that now included the reference to

the heart issue as a fall out from the Sept 2005 report. Yesterday it

was made public. Today, in Australian as this point - Chemgenex, which

is based there and in California, chooses to release a story about

Cetaflonin. Gotta admire the opportunism here by these folks. Someone

in their PR department must have seen the Gleevec news story in the US

(big time differences I suppose).

About the CHF, I wonder if everyone has gather the nuance that

inhibition of abl is the crux of the cardio problem they've identified,

ergo whatever we take puts us at risk. If this bears out in further

study, then it's a issue that requires managing whatever bcr-abl

inhibitor we take until they find an alternative to treat this or better

yet...cure it!! . We have to remember these drugs are designed to STOP

and REVERSE a life threatening chromosomal change in our marrows!!!

This obviously isn't an aspirin!! The CHF is an extremely small risk at

the moment for the majority of patients but a serious problem for

patients at risk. Adding increased cardio monitoring to our regimens is

not a huge deal especially when they firm up the key risk factors for

the subset of patients for whom this occurs. I am surprised (and

delighted) that more crap hasn't come up or out as we continue on

pioneering these brc-abl Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors.

About Cetaflonin, this is Homoharringtonine (*HHT*), a plant alkaloid

with potent myelosuppressive activity. It is now given both by IV and

sub cutaneously. It is not new but was moderately successful with a

small subset of patients in combination with IFN and IFN + Ara-C. Both

Jerry Mayfield and Cogan tried it but were not successful with

these combos. It is now being investigated again and may have some

effect on T315i.

See the following link for more trial info.

http://www.chemgenex.com/wt/page/clinical_trials

Cheers,

dx 11/98

IFN survivor

Gleevec survivor

Sprycel trial participant

Aussie article:

Biotech can take heart

by Brett Foley

July 26, 2006 12:00am

THE hopes of local biotech Chemgenex for its leukemia drug received a

boost yesterday when a study revealed a " blockbuster " rival treatment

might increase the chance of heart failure in some patients.

US research has shown the successful cancer drug Gleevec can be toxic

and lead to heart failure in some patients suffering from chronic

myeloid leukemia (CML).

Researchers who carried out the study, published yesterday in the

scientific journal Nature Medicine, examined 10 patients who developed

congestive heart failure while taking Gleevec. They recommend patients

taking the drug be monitored for heart-failure symptoms.

Further tests are required but if they confirm Gleevec causes heart

problems it will be a setback for the drug's maker Novartis and might

cause cancer practitioners to search for other treatments.

The pharmaceutical industry designates drugs with sales in excess of

$US1 billion a year as blockbusters. Gleevec sales have passed $US2.2

billion a year.

Nasdaq-listed Chemgenex recently launched final stage trials for its

alternative treatment, Ceflatonin, in the US, hoping to apply for

regulatory approval within a year.

Chemgenex is targeting patients with CML who cannot be treated with

Gleevec because they are resistant to it. Gleevec has proved highly

successful at treating CML with about 100,000 patients currently taking

the drug.

Chemgenex chief executive Greg Collier said as many as 30 per cent of

CML patients had developed resistance to Gleevec and these test results

could boost the potential market for Ceflatonin.

" Our drug is the only one in late stage trials that has a different

mechanism so this expands the potential market, " he said.

Perth-based biotech Chemeq has been fined $500,000 for two counts of

failing to disclose market sensitive information -- the highest fine

imposed on an Australian company.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission said the company

admitted failing to comply with disclosure rules on two occasions

relating to a $25 million blowout at its new manufacturing facility and

the impact of a US patent on the group's financial position.

The Federal Court also ordered costs of $170,000 against Chemeq.