Poniard Pharmaceuticals today unveiled its safety data from a Phase 1 dose-escalation study of picoplatin.

Picoplatin - a platinum-based intravenous chemotherapeutic agent - is the biopharmaceutical company's lead candidate for treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer together with with 5-fluorouracil (5FU) and leucovorin (LV).

Fifty patients were treated with picoplatin on either a two-weekly or four-weekly basis in combination with the standard of care of a fortnightly dose of 5FU and LV.

Patients received up to 28 cycles, and the therapy was well tolerated.

Although increased hematological toxicity was observed at higher doses, none of the patients treated with picoplatin experienced a Grade 3 or higher neuropathy and only 20 per cent manifested mild neuropathy.

Dr Jerry McMahon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Poniard Pharmaceuticals, said: "Picoplatin has demonstrated both good tolerability and no severe neuropathies when combined with 5FU and LV.

"We believe picoplatin has the potential to be a preferred platinum for the treatment of colorectal and other cancer indications."

Source:

Poniard Pharmaceuticals Announces Picoplatin SafetyData in Colorectal Cancer, 28/01/08
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/01-27-2008/0004743460&EDATE=

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