Importance of the field: Figitumumab is being developed as a highly potent and specific fully human IgG2 monoclonal antibody against the IGF Type 1 receptor (IGF-IR) for the treatment of cancer.
Areas covered in this review: This manuscript reviews the rationale, preclinical data and early clinical results of the figitumumab development program. Early trials were initiated in 2003 and initial reports appeared in 2006.
What the reader will gain: Figitumumab has an effective half life of approximately 20 days and has been generally well tolerated in clinical trials. Initial pharmacodynamic studies suggested that IGF-IR overexpression and increased bioactivity of IGFs constitute independent mechanisms of tumor sensitivity to figitumumab. Single-agent activity has been noted in Ewing's sarcoma and a recently completed proof-of-concept study suggested that figitumumab may be active in NSCLC.
Take home message: The strong biologic rationale for IGF-IR targeting in multiple types of human cancer and the feasibility of combination with full doses of therapies that constitute the standard of care in a variety of oncology indications have justified an expanded clinical program in multiple areas of unmet medical need in oncology.