On May 31, 2018 Polaris Group reported that the first patient has been dosed in a phase 2 trial of ADI‑PEG 20 in combination with gemcitabine and docetaxel for the treatment of soft tissue sarcoma, sponsored by Washington University (Press release, Polaris Pharmaceuticals, MAY 31, 2018, View Source [SID1234527003]). In addition to a global phase 2/3 study in malignant plural mesothelioma featuring ADI‑PEG 20 in combination with pemetrexed and cisplatin and a global phase 2 study in hepatocellular carcinoma featuring ADI‑PEG 20 in combination with FOLFOX, Polaris Group is currently conducting multiple phase 1 clinical trials, including ADI‑PEG 20 in combination with pembrolizumab in solid tumors, in combination with low dose cytarabine for acute myeloid leukemia in older patients, and in combination with atezolizumab, pemetrexed and cisplatin in non-small cell lung carcinoma.

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"We are very excited to partner with Polaris to bring metabolic therapies to the field of rare tumors", said the lead investigator Brian Van Tine, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor of Medicine and Sarcoma Program Director at Barnes and Jewish Hospital, Washington University in St. Louis.

About ADI-PEG 20

ADI‑PEG 20 is a biologic being developed by Polaris Group to treat cancers carrying a major metabolic defect that renders them unable to internally synthesize arginine. Because arginine is essential for protein synthesis and survival of cells, these cancer cells become dependent upon the external supply of arginine to survive and grow. ADI‑PEG 20 is designed to deplete the external supply of arginine, causing arginine-dependent cancer cells to die while leaving the patient’s normal cells unharmed. Multiple cancers have been reported to have a high degree of arginine-dependency and can potentially be treated with ADI‑PEG 20.