sanofi-aventis has announced that a total of 375 abstracts on its oncology commitment have been accepted for the 43rd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Chicago, Illinois (June 1-5, 2007).

The results from key studies involving the company's leading anticancer agents, Eloxatin (oxaliplatin injection) and Taxotere (docetaxel injection concentrate), will be presented along side clinical trial data examining investigational agents, aflibercept (VEGF-Trap), S-1 (oral fluoropyrimidine) and TroVax (Therapeutic Cancer Vaccine).

Of the abstracts, which have been accepted, 129 focus on Eloxatin, 214 on Taxotere, 29 on S-1, 2 on VEGF-Trap and 1 on TroVax. 193 Eloxatin and Taxotere abstracts were also accepted for presentation at the scientific sessions, with 5 Eloxatin and 15 Taxotere abstracts to be oral communications, including 1 Eloxatin presentation at the ASCO plenary session.

The key results presented with Eloxatin-based treatment (in combination with 5FU/LV) cover clinical trials in the adjuvant (post-surgery) colon cancer (MOSAIC study) and metastatic (advanced) colorectal cancer settings.

Taxotere-based regimens data in adjuvant and in metastatic breast cancer will be presented during the meeting. Two phase II studies examined aflibercept (VEGF-Trap) as a single agent in recurrent ovarian and lung cancers.

Aflibercept is an anti-angiogenic agent, which blocks the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), and which is currently being investigated to assess its use in stopping tumour growth. Aflibercept is in phase III development as part of a collaboration between sanofi-aventis and Regeneron. S-1 is a novel oral fluoropyrimidine that combines three investigational agents: tegafur, a prodrug of 5 fluoro-uracil; gimeracil (5-chloro-2,4 dihydropyridine) which inhibits dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase enzyme; and oteracil (potassium oxonate), a gastrointestinal side effect corrector. The phase III data to be presented evaluate the addition of cisplatin to S-1 in advanced gastric cancer. S-1 is marketed in Japan by Taiho for a variety of indications including gastric cancer.