Angiogenesis antagonists: current clinical trials

The Third Annual Cambridge Healthtech Institute symposium, entitled Angiogenesis Antagonists: Current Clinical Trials, Drug Development and Regulatory Issues, co-sponsored by the journal Angiogenesis and the Angiogenesis Foundation, convened on October 19 and 20 in Bermuda. The meeting attracted international experts from academia, the biopharmaceutical industry and the National Cancer Institute to share initial experiences in clinical trials of therapeutic modulation of angiogenesis. As molecular inhibitors move rapidly from the laboratory to the clinic, practical strategies were advanced to accelerate the introduction of the emerging class of pharmacological agents—angiogenesis antagonists. Themes of the meeting included:(1) An update of current clinical trials.(2) Specific disease/organ sites selected for anti-angiogenesis therapy.(3) Potential and actual toxicities.(4) The use of drug synergisms, combining angiogenesis antagonists with cytotoxic therapy.(5) Mechanisms for funding.(6) Overcoming regulatory hurdles to introduce new compounds.