Drug Cos to Present at ASCO

We highlight Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (BMY - Analyst Report), Pfizer Inc (PFE - Analyst Report), Medivation Inc (MDVN - Analyst Report), Cougar Biotechnology Inc. (CGRB), Eli Lilly & Co. (LLY - Analyst Report), Amgen Inc. (AMGN - Analyst Report) and Biogen Idec Inc. (BIIB - Analyst Report).

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) is set for May 29th - June 2nd in Orlando, Florida. ASCO is an annual forum where pharmaceutical and biotech companies come to present data on their cancer drugs in all stages of development. ASCO is a widely followed event by analysts and investors interested in new information on key pipeline and currently marketed compounds.  We list what to look for from several of the companies that will be attending and presenting at this year's ASCO event.

Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY - Analyst Report) will be presenting updated survival data of its melanoma candidate, ipilimumab, from several phase II and phase III trials, both as a monotherapy and in combination with chemotherapy. Bristol will also have several presentations on Erbitux, including phase II data in combination with cisplatin in non-small cell lung cancer.

Pfizer Inc (PFE - Analyst Report) will be presenting phase II data on Sutent in combination with docetaxel in patients with previously untreated hormone refractory prostate cancer. Other noteworthy prostate cancer presentations will come from Medivation Inc (MDVN - Analyst Report) and Cougar Biotechnology (CGRB). Medivation will have phase II data on MDV3100 in hormonal therapy and chemotherpay experienced patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Cougar will present data on its CRPC candidate, abirateron acetate, in chemptherapy-experienced patients.

Eli Lilly (LLY - Analyst Report) will be making more than 50 presentations at ASCO 2009 including several on Alimta in NSCLC and Gemzar in combination with cisplatin in cervical cancer.

Amgen (AMGN - Analyst Report) plans a very busy ASCO as well. Most of these are data presentations are results from testing Vectibix (panitumumab) in various stages and combination regimens for metastatic colorectal cancer. The company plans presentations by KRAS tumor status with Vectibix as well, plus several combination studies testing Vectibix and AMG-655 in lung, colorectal, and pancreatic cancer.

We will also see a slew of data on denosumab, including data on fractures in men receiving androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer, bone mineral density in women with breast cancer, giant cell tumor of the bone, and osteosarcoma. Finally, Amgen will offer up important data on its Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESA) testing the drugs under new national coverage decision and U.S. / EU guidelines for Hb levels, and a surveillance, epidemiology, and end results (SEER)-Medicare study quantifying complications associated with taking ESAs in patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Biogen (BIIB - Analyst Report) will be presenting results from a phase II study comparing volociximab and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin vs. doxorubicin alone in recurrent ovarian or peritoneal cancer.