Veglin

Made by VasGene Therapeutics, Inc., Veglin is an anti-angiogenesis drug designed to treat mesothelioma and other cancers. Veglin binds with DNA genes that help produce the naturally occurring group of proteins known as Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors (VEGF). Researchers hope that Veglin can stop the production of VEGF, which in turn will stop tumors from growing past a certain size.

Although Veglin is still undergoing Phase II testing at the University of California’s Keck School of Medicine, Phase I results were promising. The Phase I testing showed that Veglin could lower the amount of VEGF in the body and in some cases reduce or stabilize tumor size. Of the 35 participants, VEGF-A levels were reduced by 47% and VEGF-C levels by 21%.

Current clinical trials involve patients with mesothelioma, lymphoma, leukemia and renal cell carcinoma. These patients were given Veglin through an IV for two hours over a period of five days. The participants then went a week without any treatment. This pattern is expected to last for about four months. Researchers believe that these studies will produce similar results as the Phase I trials.