Keep a close eye on ARQLHere is an update on ARQL from Seekingalpha.com. They have come a long way and are starting to look good.
The company provided positive clinical updates on the ongoing pivotal Phase 3 METIV-HCC trial in hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer), and on the completed amended Phase 3 ATTENTION trial in non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer
MET is a receptor tyrosine kinase, which is present in low to normal levels to support natural cellular function, but in some cancer cells, MET is inappropriately and continuously activated.
When abnormally activated, c-Met plays multiple roles in aspects of human cancer, including cancer cell growth, survival, angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis. The activation of certain cell signaling pathways, including MET, has also been associated with the development of resistance to EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) inhibitors such as cetuximab.
ARQL reported that after review of data analyses from a predefined number of patients who received tivantinib 120mg tablets administered twice daily, the Data Monitoring Committee has approved the continuation of the ongoing pivotal Phase 3 METIV-HCC liver cancer trial
According to ARQL, recently completed safety analyses among patients treated with this lower dose, showed that the incidence of neutropenia was reduced.
The METIV-HCC trial is a pivotal randomized, double-blind study of tivantinib as single agent therapy in previously treated patients with MET diagnostic-high, inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma (NYSE:HCC).
Furthermore, ARQL's partner Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co., Ltd. reported top-line results of the amended Phase 3 ATTENTION clinical trial evaluating the combination of tivantinib (ARQ 197) and erlotinib in patients with advanced or metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer with wild-type EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor).
ARQL's tivantinib is an orally administered, selective inhibitor of the c-MET receptor tyrosine kinase.