ImClone: ICM-A12 Trial

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Here is the trial background if anyone is interested:http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct/show/NCT00520481?order=1Ahead of the Bell: ImCloneNEW YORK -

A Rodman & Renshaw analyst said Thursday a prostate

cancer drug from ImClone Systems Inc. is promising and could be effective, a

day after the company announced a mid-stage trial of the drug.

Before the markets opened Wednesday, ImClone said it is

enrolling patients in a trial that will test the safety and effectiveness of

ICM-A12 in advanced androgen-independent prostate cancer. The company plans to

enroll 30 patients in the trial, and give them a dose of the drug every two

weeks.

Patients in the trial will be those who have advanced

prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, and who have not

previously received chemotherapy.

Rodman & Renshaw analyst King kept a

"Market Outperform" rating on ImClone stock, with a price target of $42

per share. He said early clinical trial results of IMC-A12 were "highly

encouraging."

"We strongly believe ImClone's foray into the lucrative

prostate cancer market is based on solid preclinical and translational research

suggesting that IMC-A12 has the ability to disrupt the biological processes

responsible for prostate cancer cell growth and survival," he said.

There is currently no therapy proven to increase survival

for patients with androgen-independent prostate cancer, King said. Patients are

typically given hormones, but develop resistance after an average of 18 months

and suffer a relapse. About 20 percent of newly diagnosed prostate cancer cases

are androgen-independent.

Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. EmersonFaith-Love-Hope-Winwww.flhw.org"the Big C"