OREANDA-NEWS. May 15, 2015. Abzena plc (AIM:ABZA), a life sciences company providing services and technologies that enable the development of biopharmaceutical products, provides an update on GS-5745, an antibody humanized using Antitope's Composite Human Antibody™ technology and being evaluated in clinical studies by Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Foster City, CA, USA).

Based on promising safety and efficacy data, Gilead Sciences has indicated1 that it plans to move its anti-MMP9 antibody GS-5745 directly into a Phase III clinical study in gastric cancer in the third quarter of 2015.  This product is also currently under evaluation for pancreatic cancer in a Phase Ib study. 

A Phase II study in moderately to severely active Crohn's disease is also being initiated2.

John Burt, CEO of Abzena, said: "We are encouraged by the clinical progress that Gilead is making with GS-5745 across a range of indications."

1Gilead Sciences Q1 2015 Earnings Conference Call (30 April 2015)

2Clinicaltrials.gov; accessed 01 May 2015