VioQuest Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: VQPH), announced today that it
has dosed the first patient in its Phase I/IIa clinical trial of VQD-001,
Sodium Stibogluconate (SSG), for evaluation of solid tumors, at the MD
Anderson Cancer Center. VQD-001 has shown in preclinical studies to
specifically inhibit protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs), a family of
enzymes believed to play a crucial role in solid tumor formation. PTPs are
over-expressed in many advanced malignancies, including renal cancer and
melanoma. Based on preclinical activity demonstrated in animal models,
VQD-001 may represent a novel oncology therapeutic for halting solid tumor
growth.
The MD Anderson trial is under the direction of principal investigator
Luis Camacho, M.D., M.P.H., and is the first corporate-sponsored study of
VQD- 001. Dr. Camacho is an Assistant Professor in the Phase I Program,
Division of Cancer Medicine, whose research interests include cell signal
inhibition and specific antibody mediated therapies.
The trial is a Phase I/IIa, open-label, dose escalation study to
evaluate the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of VQD-001 in
combination with Interferon alpha-2b for patients with advanced
malignancies.
Among the goals of this clinical trial is to find the highest tolerable
dose of VQD-001 combined with Interferon alfa-2b in the treatment of
patients with advanced cancer that have not responded to standard treatment
or where there is no standard treatment for that type of cancer. The
effectiveness and safety of this drug combination will also be studied.
Researchers also want to study the pharmacokinetics (PKs) of the
treatment. PK testing is the study of what the body does to a drug over
time, including how it is absorbed into the body, how it moves throughout
the body, and how the body gets rid of the drug.
Dr. Camacho said, "I am most pleased to be leading this trial.
VQD-001's long safety history gives us a real boost as we explore its
anti-tumor activity in patients with advanced solid tumors. The
pre-clinical animal models are very encouraging and our trial could shed
light to a new family of anti-cancer compounds."
Dan Greenleaf, president and CEO of VioQuest, added, "The acceptance of
our IND and the commencement of the trial for VQD-001 mark the achievement
of another important clinical milestone for VioQuest. We are very excited
about the potential of this compound and we look forward to further
clinical progress in the months ahead."
There is an investigator-initiated Phase I/IIa study of VQD-001 in
advanced malignancies currently in progress at the Cleveland Clinic Taussig
Cancer Center, led by Ernest C. Borden, M.D., Director of Experimental Drug
Discovery and Development, and Ronald Bukowski, M.D., Head of Experimental
Therapeutics and Deputy Director of the Center. This trial is fully funded
by the National Institutes of Health. VioQuest expects to report interim
results from this trial during the first half of 2007.
About VQD-001: Sodium Stibogluconate (SSG)
VQD-001 is a clinical stage drug with a novel anti-tumor action that
has potential as a treatment for cancer, either alone or in combination
with other therapeutics. It has shown compelling preclinical activity, in
multiple myeloma, malignant melanoma, bladder, and colon cancer cell lines.
Investigators at the Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Center found that
VQD-001 inhibits specific protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPases), which
are over-expressed in certain cancers. This over-expression plays an
integral role in tumor growth in certain cancers.
About VioQuest Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
VioQuest Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused
on acquiring, developing, and commercializing targeted late preclinical and
early clinical stage therapies with unique mechanisms of action for
oncology, viral and autoimmune disorders. A pioneer in targeted
therapeutics, VioQuest has two oncology compounds in clinical trials.
VQD-001, an inhibitor of specific protein tyrosine phosphatases, has shown
compelling preclinical activity in both renal and melanoma cancers; and
VQD-002, which inhibits the phosphorylation of Akt, an enzyme found in
abnormal levels in breast, ovarian, colorectal, pancreatic, and liquid
cancers.
VioQuest's subsidiary, Chiral Quest, a leader in asymmetric
chemocatalysis and custom synthesis, offers its proprietary technology
products to well-known pharmaceutical and fine chemical companies worldwide
to improve their production efficiencies and, in some instances, to
increase the overall safety and efficacy of the underlying drug.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve
risks and uncertainties that could cause VioQuest's actual results and
experiences to differ materially from the anticipated results and
expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements. These
statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or
phrases such as "anticipates," "expects," "plans," "believes," "intends,"
and similar words or phrases. These statements are based on current
expectations, forecasts and assumptions that are subject to risks and
uncertainties, which could cause actual outcomes and results to differ
materially from these statements. Among other things, there can be no
assurances that VioQuest's clinical trials relating to VQD-001 will be
successful or that VioQuest will be able to successfully commercialize VQD-
001 for the treatment of solid tumor cancers or any other indication. Other
risks and uncertainties include the possibility that the results of
clinical trials will not support VioQuest's claims, the possibility that
VioQuest's development efforts relating to its product candidates,
including VQD-001 and VQD -002, will not be successful, the inability to
obtain regulatory approval of VioQuest's product candidates, VioQuest's
reliance on third-party researchers to develop its product candidates, its
lack of experience in developing and commercializing pharmaceutical
products, and the possibility that its licenses to develop and
commercialize its product candidates may be terminated. Additional risks
are described in VioQuest's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended
December 31, 2005. VioQuest assumes no obligation and does not intend to
update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law.
VioQuest Pharmaceuticals, Inc
VioQuest Pharmaceuticals
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