The FDA has given GenVec the green light to resume two clinical trials suspended for safety concerns. Last October GenVec's stock took a beating when it suspended research after a mid-stage trial of its TNFerade treatment -- a gene therapy drug for esophagus cancer -- was linked to an increase in blood clotting. Now GenVec says the FDA's concerns have been addressed and it can follow-up on patients in the trial. GenVec is also resuming enrollment for a clinical trial of TNFerade as a treatment for rectum cancer.
"Our clinical results to date with TNFerade in a variety of solid tumors, including pancreatic and rectal cancer, have been very encouraging and we look forward to expanding our efforts in rectal cancer," said Dr. Paul H. Fischer, president and CEO of GenVec.
- read this story from the AP for more on the move