A new therapy used in conjunction with platinum-based treatments has helped to increase the survival rates of patients involved in a trial of the drug.

Poniard Pharmaceuticals has announced that the phase two trial of its picoplatin drug demonstrated a survival benefit in patients with recurrent small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

Welcoming the results of the latest round of tests on the therapy, John R Eckardt, a clinical trial investigator and medical oncologist at The Center for Cancer Care and Research in St Louis, said: "Picoplatin extended survival in patients with recurrent small cell lung cancer in this clinical trial and has the potential to be a safe and efficacious adjunct or alternative to topotecan, the only agent approved for this indication."

The tests have focused on patients who are refractory to treatment with first-line platinum-containing Chemotherapy and has delivered a median overall survival of 27 Weeks, compared to 17 to 22 weeks for patients receiving other second-line chemotherapy treatments.

Sources:
Poniard Pharmaceuticals Announces Results of Picoplatin Phase 2 Trial That Confirm and Extend Survival Benefit in Small Cell Lung Cancer
3/06/07
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/06-03-2007/0004600498&EDATE=

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