Colon cancer drug "boosts survival"

Tuesday 26th January 2010

A colon cancer drug has boosted overall survival in heavily pre-treated patients with advanced metastatic colon cancer, it has been claimed.

Patients receiving the drug KRX-0401, or perifosine, showed more than 60% improvement in overall survival and showed statistically significant advantage for time to progression, when compared with a dummy drug, said Keryx Biopharmaceuticals.

But the patients who were on the drug showed a greater incidence of adverse events such as anaemia and hand-foot syndrome compared with those on the dummy, the company said in a statement.

A total of 38 patients in the study were either given the drug in combination with the chemotherapy treatment capecitabine, or were just given capecitabine in combination with a dummy drug.

Perifosine is now being tested in another late-stage trial for the treatment of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

Ron Bentsur, chief executive of the company, said in the statement: "We are eager to finalize the design of a Phase 3 protocol in metastatic colorectal cancer within the next three months, in consultation with the FDA, and to commence the Phase 3 study as soon as practicable."

Copyright Press Association 2010

Department of Health

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