BOULDER, Colo., June 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Pharmion Corporation today announced the presentation of new clinical data on satraplatin, which is currently being studied in a fully enrolled Phase 3 trial for the treatment of hormone refractory prostate cancer, at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Atlanta, Georgia.
Phase 1 Study of the Effects of Hepatic Impairment on the Pharmacokinetics (PK) and Safety of Satraplatin in Patients with Refractory Non-Hematologic Cancer (Abstract 2045, Poster #A10)
On June 4, data from this Phase 1 study was presented on 19 patients with advanced solid tumors and with varying degrees of hepatic impairment (reduced liver function). The study was designed to show the effect of hepatic impairment on the pharmacokinetics of satraplatin in patients with advanced forms of cancer. Most patients in the study were heavily pre-treated. As this study is still ongoing, the data reported are considered preliminary. Satraplatin appears to be well tolerated in patients with mild to moderate liver impairment. As expected, the main toxicities observed thus far have been hematologic -- anemia, thrombocytopenia (decrease in platelets in the blood) and neutropenia (decrease in white blood cells). Non-hematologic toxicities like diarrhea, anorexia, and fatigue have been mild. No significant cardio, liver or neurological toxicities have yet been observed.
Phase 1 Study of the Effects of Renal Impairment on the Pharmacokinetics and Safety of Satraplatin in Patients with Refractory Non-Hematologic Cancer (Abstract 2044, Poster #A9)
Also on June 4, data from an additional Phase 1 study on 24 patients with advanced solid tumors and with varying degrees of renal impairment (reduced kidney function). The study was designed to show the effect of renal impairment on the pharmacokinetics of satraplatin in patients with advanced forms of cancer. As this study is still ongoing, the data reported are considered preliminary. Satraplatin appears to be well tolerated in these patients. As expected, the main hematological toxicities observed to date have been anemia and thrombocytopenia. Common toxicities like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue and anorexia have to date been mild. No significant cardio, renal, liver or neurological toxicities have yet been observed.
As patients with advanced cancer may often have limited function of the liver and/or kidneys, it is important to understand how these impairments affect how a drug is used by the body. The results of these two studies should help clinicians understand the tolerability and appropriate dosing of satraplatin in cancer patients whose liver or kidney function are compromised.
About Satraplatin
Satraplatin, an investigational drug, is a member of the platinum family of compounds. Over the past two decades, platinum-based drugs have become a critical part of modern chemotherapy treatments and are used to treat a wide variety of cancers. Unlike the platinum drugs currently on the market, all of which require intravenous administration, satraplatin is an orally bioavailable compound and is given as capsules that patients can take at home.
About Pharmion
Pharmion is a biotechnology company focused on acquiring, developing and commercializing innovative products for the treatment of hematology and oncology patients in the U.S., Europe and additional international markets. Pharmion has a number of products on the market including the world's first approved epigenetic therapy, Vidaza(R), a DNA demethylating agent. For additional information about Pharmion, please visit the company's website at www.pharmion.com.
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This release contains forward-looking statements, including summary statements relating to interim or preliminary results of clinical trials involving Pharmion's pipeline products. Such statements are based on current expectations and involve a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause the final results to differ significantly from the results summarized by such statements. The clinical trials described in this release are being conducted by independent investigators and Pharmion does not control and cannot predict the final results of those trials. Top line results may not be confirmed upon full analysis of the detailed results of a trial and additional information relating to the safety, efficacy or tolerability of Pharmion's products may be discovered upon further analysis of clinical trial data and upon review and analysis of additional clinical trial data. Additional risks and uncertainties relating to Pharmion and its business can be found in the "Risk Factors" section of Pharmion's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2006, its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 and in Pharmion's other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and Pharmion undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. Pharmion also disclaims any duty to comment upon or correct information that may be contained in reports published by the investment community.
2006 (C) Pharmion Corporation. All rights reserved.
Pharmion CorporationCONTACT: Breanna Burkart or Anna Sussman, Directors, Investor Relationsand Corporate Communications of Pharmion Corporation, +1-720-564-9150
Web site: http://www.pharmion.com//
