Italian biotechnology company, MolMed S.p.A., is expanding clinical trials of their new drug NGR-hTNF to Europe and the US. Currently being tested in ten Italian facilities, NGR-hTNF has been developed for treatment of pleural mesothelioma. NGR-hTNF has been designated as an ‘orphan drug’ in the US, which means its target disease is an ‘orphan disease,’ affecting less than 200,000 people at a time.
Mesothelioma is a rare cancer of the abdominal cavity lining. Pleural mesothelioma is specific to mesothelioma of the lung lining, while peritoneal mesothelioma is that of other abdominal linings, such as the heart. Pleural mesothelioma is the more common of the two, affecting about three thousand Americans each year and an estimated ninety thousand worldwide.
Mesothelioma is caused by asbestos exposure. asbestos fibers and dust can begin a mutative development if inhaled or ingested. Often taking twenty to fifty years to show signs and symptoms, mesothelioma grows irregularly patterned malignant tumors through the affected area. Many mesothelioma patients have no idea they were ever exposed to asbestos, making diagnosis difficult. Symptoms mimic those of pneumonia and bronchitis, so once patients do seek a physician’s counsel, proper diagnosis can be further postponed.
There is no known cure for mesothelioma. Many treatments are used to make patients as comfortable as possible and to extend life expectancy, which currently averages eighteen months following diagnosis. Mesothelioma treatments may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and pain management.
Three hundred and ninety patients are expected to participate in the upcoming NGR-hTNF clinical trials. All patients have been diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma and have undergone at least one round of treatment using the current standard pemetrexed-based chemotherapy. These new studies will focus on patients quality of life, survival times, progression-free times, and disease control in response to NGR-hTNF. Not only will the results of the clinical trials be a welcome addition in the medical community, but the studies will allow many mesothelioma patients to receive new, cutting edge treatments. Results are expected in 2013.