"Cancer Research" Journal Publishes Successful Angiogenesis Study Using Optimata's Technology

Main Category: Cancer / Oncology
Also Included In: Medical Devices / Diagnostics;  IT / Internet / E-mail
Article Date: 28 Oct 2008 - 10:00 PDT

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Optimata Ltd., developer of the proprietary Optimata Virtual Patient® technology to navigate drug development, announced today that a scientific paper based on research carried out by company scientists will be published in the prestigious "Cancer Research" Journal 2008; edition 68: (21), on November, 1st 2008.

The paper discusses "Efficacy of Weekly Docetaxel and Bevacizumab in Mesenchymal Chondrosarcoma: a New Theranostic Method Combining Xenografted Biopsies with a Mathematical Model."

The study involved the challenging task of personalizing treatment of a cancer patient by using unique technology combining in silico, in vitro and in vivo models. The proposed chemotherapy and angiogenesis inhibitor co-administration regimen resulted in temporary tumor stabilization, substantial recovery of blood counts and six months of good quality of life for the patient treated. In the paper, the researchers expand the results to a general hypothesis that correlates between the patient's angiogenesis state and the optimal inter-dosing interval of cytotoxic drugs.

"In this study the Optimata Virtual Patient® shows almost 90% accuracy in predicting tumor growth inhibition of the patient's biopsy Xenografts when treated by various cytotoxics and targeted angiogenic inhibitors. The success of the improved combination schedule recommended by the Virtual Patient indicates that angiogenesis biomarkers are going to be increasingly valuable in future personalized medicine," said Prof. Zvia Agur, Optimata's Founder and CSO.

Prof. Agur added: "We are pleased that such a widely-recognized publication as Cancer Research decided to publish this study. We expect studies in animals will further validate our hypothesis about the dependence of optimal treatment regimen on angiogenesis rate. We believe that this approach can lead to a significant improvement in the efficacy of drug treatments for oncology patients."

Optimata also announced that Prof. Zvia Agur has been invited to speak at the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center's 61st Annual Symposium on Cancer Research, Systems Biology of Cancer, to be held October 30 - November 1, 2008 in Houston TX.

Prof. Agur will speak in a session on Computational Biology, chaired by Dr. Gabor Balazsi, Dr. Mandri Obeyesekere and Dr. Ananth Annapragada. Her lecture on the study and use of mathematical models for treatment personalization in oncology is scheduled for the afternoon of Thursday October 30.

About Optimata Ltd.

Optimata Ltd. is an interdisciplinary science-based company developing computerized tools - Virtual Patient engines - for navigating drug development towards better drugs, faster. Applying bio-mathematics to develop a predictive bio-simulation software toolkit, this technology provides a comprehensive drug development solution, from the pre-clinical phase through treatment personalization.

Additional information about M. D. Anderson Cancer Center's 61st Annual Symposium can be found at http://www.mdanderson.org/prof_education/cmecs/index.cfm

Source
Daphna Lewin
Business Development
Optimata Ltd.