Poniard Pharmaceuticals revealed yesterday (24th March) that it intends to shift the developmental focus in relation to its leading platinum-based drug.

The biopharmaceutical company had been planning to obtain regulatory approval for picoplatin in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC).

However, it has now reversed that decision after analysing the primary and updated data from the Phase 3 SPEAR study of picoplatin in SCLC and evaluating the New Drug Application process with the US Food and Drug Administration.

Instead, Poniard is planning to concentrate on developing pivotal clinical strategies for the drug in colorectal, prostate and ovarian cancers, as well as in SCLC.

"Leveraging key insights from the SPEAR study, we plan to redirect our resources toward developing multiple registration strategies to advance picoplatin to market," said Chief Executive Ronald A. Martell.

"Picoplatin has demonstrated promising clinical activity, including favourable survival and safety data in small cell lung cancer, as well as in a variety of other solid tumours."

Mr Martell added that the versatility displayed by picoplatin is central to its value to medical testing and marks it out as an "attractive development candidate".

In Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials, picoplatin demonstrated activity in a variety of solid tumours, including lung, ovarian, colorectal and hormone-refractory prostate cancers.

Source:

Poniard Pharmaceuticals Provides Strategic Update on Picoplatin Development Program (24/03/10)

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