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Oncothyreon today announced that the first patient has been treated in a Phase 1b clinical trial of PX-12 in patients with advanced metastatic cancer
BELLEVUE, WA, USA | June 11, 2008 | Oncothyreon Inc. (Nasdaq: ONTY) (TSX: ONY) (the "Company") today announced that the first patient has been treated in a Phase 1b clinical trial of PX-12 in patients with advanced metastatic cancer. PX-12 is a proprietary small molecule inhibitor of thioredoxin, a protein that regulates diverse molecular pathways that contribute to the growth, survival and drug resistance of many cancers.
The primary objective of the Phase 1b dose-escalation trial is to determine the safety and tolerability of a 72-hour continuous infusion of PX-12 given on the first three days of a 21-day cycle. Other objectives of the trial include an evaluation of the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the prolonged infusion, together with identification of any anti-tumor activity. The trial is expected to enroll up to 28 patients at three centers in the United States.
About PX-12
PX-12 is a small molecule designed to inhibit thioredoxin-1. Increased levels of thioredoxin-1 have been noted in many types of cancer cells, including hepatoma, lung cancers, squamous cervical carcinoma, primary gastric cancers and colorectal carcinomas. Increased levels of thioredoxin-1 are associated with decreased sensitivity to a variety of common chemotherapy agents and may cause or contribute to drug resistance.
An initial Phase 1 trial of PX-12 in 38 patients with advanced metastatic cancer showed that PX-12 was well tolerated and produced a decrease in plasma concentrations of thioredoxin that was significantly correlated with increased patient survival. Fifteen of the 38 patients achieved stable disease of up to 322 days. Oncothyreon is also currently conducting a Phase 2 trial of PX-12 given as a 3-hour infusion daily for five days of a 21-day cycle in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer who have progressed on gemcitabine or a gemcitabine-containing regimen.
About Oncothyreon
Oncothyreon is a biotechnology company specializing in the development of innovative therapeutic products for the treatment of cancer. Oncothyreon's goal is to develop and commercialize novel synthetic vaccines and targeted small molecules that have the potential to improve the lives and outcomes of cancer patients. For more information, visit www.oncothyreon.com.
SOURCE: Oncothyreon Inc. |
