Amatuximab (MORAb-009) is an investigational chimeric IgG₁ antibody that targets a cell surface glycoprotein, mesothelin, which is over-expressed on a number of cancers. Mesothelin is thought to be involved in cell adhesion. Its presence is associated with a range of cancers, including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, mesothelioma, epithelial ovarian cancer, and lung adenocarcinoma. Researchers at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the Johns Hopkins University have independently validated mesothelin as a potential target of immuno-based therapies.

Amatuximab is currently being investigated as a monoclonal antibody for its potential treatment of mesothelioma. An Investigational New Drug application was opened for MORAb-009 in 2006. A Phase 1 study in patients with mesothelin-positive cancers (pancreatic, ovarian, mesothelioma and lung) was conducted at Johns Hopkins, Fox Chase Cancer Center and the National Cancer Institute. A multi-institutional Phase 2 Study is currently being conducted to evaluate Amatuximab in patients with mesothelioma in the US and EU. For more information on clinical studies, click here.

 

The information contained herein is investigational and is not intended to make claims of safety or efficacy prior to approval by the FDA or other regulatory authorities. There is no guarantee that the agents described or their uses will be approved by the FDA or other regulatory authorities.