Biocon presents strong data on YM Bio drug, say analysts

At this week's American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Orlando, Florida, India-based firm Biocon presented the findings of a study with  nimotuzumab, Canada-based YM BioSciences' lead project, demonstrating  efficacy in line with that seen historically with cetuximab but with a  far cleaner side-effect profile, said analysts at Edison Investment  Research. The researchers believe this to be the first trial in head and  neck cancer to challenge the concept that EGFr inhibitor activity cannot  be dissociated from serious toxicities. The findings lend weight to the  perception of nimotuzumab as a potential best-in-class anticancer drug.

YM BioSciences is an oncology-focused business developing compounds  licensed from academia and acquired through company takeovers.