OXiGENE, Inc. entered a worldwide agreement to license Angiogene Pharmaceuticals’ vascular disrupting agent (VDA) program for neuroendocrine cancers, focused on carcinoid syndrome. OXiGENE plans to develop Zybrestat to treat carcinoid syndrome associated with metastatic cancer and neuroendocrine tumors. OXiGENE expects to conduct a Phase II study in persistent carcinoid syndrome, with the potential to advance to a registration clinical program.
 
"In-licensing this intellectual property and other assets from Angiogene is strategically important for OXiGENE, providing the potential to significantly expand the commercial opportunity and patent protection for Zybrestat," said Dr. Peter Langecker, OXiGENE's chief executive officer. "OXiGENE has contemplated developing Zybrestat in carcinoid syndrome for some time, given the compelling scientific basis for using a VDA to disrupt blood flow to induce tumor necrosis and reduce production of well-validated biologic mediators, such as serotonin, which are associated with the most severe, debilitating symptoms of this disease."