OXiGENE Inc. has completed a phase II study in patients with advanced imageable malignancies. This was a randomised open-label study of intravenous CA4P administered at 45 or 63 mg/m(2) followed by paclitaxel and carboplatin in 13 patients.

The objectives of the trial were to identify optimal dose of CA4P for blood flow shutdown and to demonstrate safety and efficacy of CA4P in combination with paclitaxel and carboplatin. All patient data have been collected and analysed, with the exception of one patient who is still continuing in the optional extension phase of the protocol due to continued good clinical response.

Topline data from the study indicate that the objectives of the study were met. The imaging confirmed blood flow shutdown in a wide variety of advanced imageable malignancies, safety is in line with expectations and tumour responses were seen in multiple patients. "We are pleased with the study results, and the completion of this study again illustrates our focus on timely execution of our programs" said OXiGENE's president and CEO, Richard Chin, MD.

The study was conducted at the Huntsman Cancer Centre (HCI), University of Utah by Dr Wallace Akerley and his co-investigators. It is anticipated that the results will be presented at an upcoming scientific meeting in 2007.

Despite advances in the management of cancer with radiotherapy, chemotherapy and surgery, there is an unmet medical need for treatments with new mechanisms of action, which may act synergistically with chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

OXiGENE is an emerging pharmaceutical company developing novel small-molecule therapeutics to treat cancer and eye diseases. The company's major focus is the clinical advancement of drug candidates that selectively disrupt abnormal blood vessels associated with solid tumour progression and visual impairment. OXiGENE is dedicated to leveraging its intellectual property position and therapeutic development.