Promising initial Ph II data on Ascenta's AT-101

The USA's Ascenta Therapeutics reported positive preliminary results  from a Phase II study of AT-101 in combination with docetaxel and  prednisone in men with docetaxel-refractory, castrate-resistant prostate  cancer at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Genitourinary  Cancers Symposium in Orlando, Florida.

AT-101, an oral, pan-Bcl-2 inhibitor currently in double-blinded,  randomized Phase II trials in both prostate cancer and non-small cell  lung cancer, is the lead compound in Ascenta's portfolio of  apoptosis-triggering small-molecules.

Initial findings from the ongoing open-label, multicenter study  demonstrate that AT-101 can be administered safely with D/P in these  patients, Ascenta stated, adding that investigators also observed  clinical responses, based on both prostate-specific antigen and Response  Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors criteria, including four patients  with a confirmed partial response, defined as a PSA decline of 50% or  greater. 38% of patients treated had at least a 30% decrease in PSA  level and 19% achieved a confirmed PR.