Access Pharmaceuticals has today announced that it will be evaluating the potential for using 'AP5346', a new 'DACH polymer platinate', in a clinical study to establish its medical benefits.

The Phase I study is being conducted at two European sites, in France and the Netherlands, in a bid to determine the maximum tolerated dose to be administered when treating tumour biopsies with the substance.

The aim, according to the scientists behind the project, is to evaluate platinum tumour DNA adduct formation, which is the mechanism by which platinum is thought to inhibit tumour growth.

The recent highly successful United States launch of the first DACH-platinum compound, 'oxaliplatin', has led experts to believe it could have a significant future role in the management of cancer.

Oxaliplatin is approved in Europe and numerous international markets with estimated annual worldwide sales already in excess of $400 million and anticipated annual market potential in excess of $1 billion.

Kerry Gray, president and chief executive of Access, said a clinical development plan to evaluate numerous tumour types where platinum has shown activity was already in progress.

'The advancement of the development and the exciting data not only supports the discussions which are ongoing but adds significant value to our polymer platinate portfolio,' Mr Gray concluded.