AB Science SA Reports Phase Three Study Results of Masitinib in Combination with Gemzar for Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer

AB Science SA (AB Science) announced on October 30, 2012 the results from a phase three study evaluating the effect of masitinib in combination with Gemzar on overall survival (OS) in patients with pancreatic cancer. Briefly, masitinib in combination with Gemzar extended median OS by six and 2.7 months in two independent patient populations, representing 65% and 45% of the overall population; namely, patients with a genetic biomarker - collected from simple blood sample - indicative of aggressive disease progression, and patients with cancer pain. Pain intensity and the discovered genetic biomarker were shown to be of prognostic value for survival under Gemzar alone and at the same time predictive of increased survival with masitinib in combination with Gemzar for those patients identified as having a poor prognosis with Gemzar alone. AB Science also announced that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has accepted to review a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for conditional approval of masitinib in combination with Gemzar in the treatment of pancreatic cancer, following filing of this dossier.