BERWYN, Pa., April 29 /PRNewswire/ -- EXIMIAS Pharmaceutical Corporation announced the appointment of the Co-Principal Investigators for their pivotal Phase III ETHECC(C) trial (Evaluation of THYMITAQ(R) nolatrexed dihydrochloride, in Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma). Robert G. Gish, MD, Medical Director of the Liver Transplant Program at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco and Yehuda Z. Patt, MD, Chief of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology at the Greenebaum Cancer Center of the University of Maryland have both accepted the Co-Principal Investigator positions for the ETHECC(C) trial. The decision came during the EXIMIAS worldwide THYMITAQ(R) ETHECC(C) Trial Clinical Investigators Meeting in Miami.
Dr. Gish is Medical Director of the Liver Transplant Program at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco and also Associate Professor at the University of California, San Francisco and the University of Nevada in Reno. His teaching commitment is evidenced by over 100 original articles, review articles, abstracts and book chapters and the establishment of more than 20 community outreach clinics in California and Nevada for liver disease patients. He has co-authored five communications on THYMITAQ(R) and the ETHECC(C) trial and has presented scientific posters at the 2003 Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and at the 2004 Hong Kong-Shanghai International Liver Congress.
Dr. Gish commented, "I am very excited to be working with Dr. Patt and an innovative new medicine in one of the largest trials to date for patients with unresectable liver cancer. THYMITAQ(R) is a medicine with a lot of science behind it, which has great potential with a promising safety profile. I am looking forward to the wrap-up of (patient) enrollment into this study by the end of this year."
Dr. Patt is a Professor of Medicine at the University of Maryland and Chief of Gastrointestinal Oncology and of Ambulatory care at the Greenebaum Cancer Center. Prior to his current appointment at the University of Maryland, Dr. Patt was Professor of Medicine at The University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology and Digestive Disease in Houston. During fourteen of his 25 years at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Dr. Patt led the Hepato-biliary oncology program. He is an internationally recognized liver cancer specialist having over 200 publications, books and chapters and is recognized for his work in the epidemiology, prevention and treatment of primary liver, bile duct and gall bladder cancers.
"THYMITAQ(R) may prove to be an important addendum to the limited armamentarium of treatment options that may be offered to patients with liver cancer. I am honored to be a Co-Principal Investigator of this important international trial, along with my esteemed colleague and hepatologist Dr. Robert Gish," said Dr. Patt.
"Integral to the development plan for the ETHECC(C) trial and marketing approval of THYMITAQ(R) was the selection of a leading hepatologist and a medical oncologist. Both are key players in the treatment of primary liver cancer with the hepatologist treating liver disease and the medical oncologist as the expert in cancer chemotherapy," said Dr. Jose Garcia-Vargas, EXIMIAS Vice President, Oncology Development. "The pairing of a hepatologist with an oncologist will enable us to understand the referral pattern and treatment of patients with unresectable and metastatic liver cancer and make THYMITAQ(R) accessible to these patients," continued Dr. Garcia-Vargas.
"We are delighted that Dr. Patt, an international leader in the treatment of liver and other gastrointestinal cancers, and Dr. Gish, a leading hepatologist, have joined our efforts to bring the first drug for the treatment of liver cancer to market. Now a team of world class clinicians experienced in liver disease, cancer and drug development, are directly involved in shepherding THYMITAQ(R) through the development process. The experience and enthusiasm they bring will be invaluable as we complete our pivotal trial and begin the NDA submission process for approval," said Dr. Elizabeth Corsi, President and Chief Executive Officer.
About EXIMIAS
EXIMIAS Pharmaceutical Corporation is a private pharmaceutical company focusing on the acquisition, development and commercialization of unique oncology and infectious disease products. The company has three novel, late- stage products, THYMITAQ(R) and ORATAQ(TM) for oncology and MACROTAC(TM) for oncology and infectious disease. THYMITAQ(R), the company's flagship product, is being evaluated in a Phase III clinical trial for the treatment of patients with unresectable liver cancer. The trial is expected to complete enrollment by the end of 2004.
For more information about EXIMIAS, visit http://www.eximiaspharm.com/.
EXIMIAS Pharmaceutical Corporation