SAN DIEGO, June 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Polaris Group announced today results from an ongoing phase 1b study conducted at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center that tests combining ADI-PEG 20 with gemcitabine and nab-Paclitaxel (ADIGemPac) in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.  The results will be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's 2016 annual meeting in Chicago.

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Eighteen patients, including 4 patients with 1 prior line of therapy, were enrolled in the single-arm, open label study to assess the safety and preliminary activity of ADIGemPac.  Eight patients (44%), including 1 previously treated patient, showed a partial response, and 8 patients (44%) had stable disease for a disease control rate of 88%.  With 9 patients still receiving treatment, the median progression free survival is currently 7.2 months, and median overall survival has not yet been reached.  Patients have reported no ADI-PEG 20-related grade 3-5 toxicities.

"We are encouraged to see robust anti-tumor activity demonstrated by ADIGemPac in both untreated and pre-treated advanced pancreatic cancer patients and are excited to consider further clinical investigations in order to bring a safe and effective treatment to these patients," said John Bomalaski, M.D., Executive Vice President, Medical Affairs at Polaris Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

About ADI-PEG 20

ADI-PEG 20 is a biologic being developed by Polaris Group to treat cancers carrying a major metabolic defect that renders them unable to internally synthesize arginine. Because arginine is essential for protein synthesis and survival of cells, these cancer cells become dependent upon the external supply of arginine to survive and grow. ADI-PEG 20 is designed to deplete the external supply of arginine, causing arginine-dependent cancer cells to die while leaving the patient's normal cells unharmed.  Multiple cancers have been reported to have a high degree of arginine-dependency and can potentially be treated with ADI-PEG 20.

About Polaris Group

Polaris Group specializes in the research and development of protein drugs to treat cancer and other debilitating diseases. In addition to the ADI-PEG 20 program, Polaris Group is developing other biotherapeutic agents including a small molecule drug program that utilizes a rational structure-based approach to design novel compounds that inhibit the biological function of cancer-related protein targets.

For additional information please visit www.polarispharma.com

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SOURCE Polaris Group