OncoMed and GSK’s novel anti cancer stem cell drug OMP-59R5 has begun clinical trials and could represent the future direction for oncology medicines.

A phase I study of OMP-59R5 has commenced in patients with advanced solid tumour cancers after pre-clinical studies showed it decreased the frequency of tumour-initiating cells across a variety of cancer types.

It was discovered by OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, which is developing a number of novel therapeutics that target cancer stem cells, and the firm hopes its pre-clinical success can be replicated in human testing.

Paul Hastings, president and chief executive of OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, said: “The advancement of our second antibody into the clinic represents an important milestone for OncoMed, demonstrating our robust and productive drug discovery capabilities and steady execution on our objectives for our programmes.