NGR-hTNF (antitumor recombinant protein)

NGR-hTNF is an experimental antitumor drug designed to act on tumor blood vessels.^[1][2][3] It is currently undergoing Phase III clinical trials ^[4] for treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma caused by exposure to asbestos.^[5][6][7] NGR-hTNF is also being investigated, alone or in combination with chemotherapy,^[8] on four different solid tumors^[9][10] in four other randomized Phase II trials.^[11]

NGR-hTNF is a recombinant protein derived from the fusion between peptide CNGRCG ^[12] and human tumor necrosis factor alpha ^[13] (TNFα).^[14][15] Once it has reached the tumor, NGR-hTNF performs its antitumor action.^[16] The Phase III (NGR015) ^[17] clinical trial is in progress in 35 clinical centers in Europe (Italy, UK, Ireland, Poland and Belgium), USA, Canada and Egypt. NGR-hTNF is the only drug being tested in Phase III trials ^[18] for the treatment of relapsed Mesothelioma, and has been granted Orphan Drug designation both in Europe and USA. ^[19][20]