GenVec, Inc. has been asked by the US FDA to proceed with the randomized, controlled portion of the Phase II clinical trial of TNFerade in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer.

This clinical study is designed to assess the clinical benefit of using TNFerade in combination with standard of care treatment in patients with this disease. In October 2004, the FDA placed the TNFerade clinical program on hold due to blood clots seen in patients with esophageal cancer in a separate Phase II trial. In response, GenVec submitted data to the FDA and requested permission to move forward only with the pancreatic cancer study. Other indications that were affected (esophageal and rectal cancer) remain on clinical hold.

The 74-patient randomized, controlled portion of the Phase II study will assess the activity of TNFerade when administered concurrently with 5- flourouracil (5-FU) plus radiation followed by Gemcitabine, versus 5-FU plus radiation followed by Gemcitabine. Outcome measures will include progression- free survival at three months post-treatment, median survival, tumour resectability post-treatment, and objective tumour response.

Results of the dose-escalation portion of this study of TNFerade in patients with pancreatic cancer were presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium on January 28, 2005.

"We are very pleased to resume clinical testing of TNFerade in patients with pancreatic cancer and look forward to enrolling patients in this phase of the study as quickly as possible. In the meantime, we will work closely with the FDA to chart a course for the potential clinical development of other promising indications for TNFerade," said Paul D. Kessler, GenVec's executive director of clinical research.

TNFerade is an adenovector, a DNA carrier, which contains the gene for tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), an immune system protein with potent and well-documented anti-cancer effects. After direct injection into tumors, TNFerade stimulates the production of TNF-alpha in the tumor. GenVec clinical investigators have been evaluating TNFerade in combination with radiation and chemotherapy for the treatment of various cancers.