GPC Biotech AG has published encouraging results on the efficacy of the platinum-based compound, satraplatin, on tumuor cells resistant to traditional cancer treatments.

The study evaluated the effect of satraplatin on two cancer cell lines resistant to taxane therapies, and prompted optimism among doctors.

It was found that these cell lines were not resistant to satraplatin, paving the way for further studies into the drug.

'We expect that many of the patients in the satraplatin Phase 3 registrational trial will have been pre-treated with and failed on a taxane-based therapy prior to entering our study. Thus, these data are very encouraging,' Marcel Rozencweig, senior vice-president of drug development of GPC Biotech, stated.

While Satraplatin is a member of the platinum family of compounds, unlike other platinum compounds currently on the market, it is orally administered.

The drug has been successful in initial trials on prostate, ovarian and small-cell lung cancers.