Spectrum Pharmaceuticals says it is progressing well with the development of its third generation platinum-based treatment for cancer.

The firm says it now has a number of courses at phase two in clinical trials, with the use of satraplatin now in phase three.

Chairman and chief executive Rajesh Shrotriya said the company was confident of the success of its new treatments.

"Our third generation platinum drug satraplatin is currently in phase three trials, which are being conducted by our partner GPC Biotech, with the goal of filing an NDA in 2006.," he commented.

Spectrum Pharmaceuticals specialises in developing and commercializing drug products for the treatment of cancer, in a field that has blossomed in recent years.

Platinum products have become the standard treatment in some branches of oncology, with both lung cancer and prostate cancer among those to benefit from pgm-based treatments.