GPC Biotech breast cancer drug enters phase II trial

A phase II trial has been initiated evaluating GPC Biotech's lead drug candidate, satraplatin, in patients with metastatic breast cancer who have received no more than one prior chemotherapy treatment regimen. 3 Nov 2005, 17:15 GMT - The phase II study in metastatic breast cancer is an open label, multicenter study being managed by US Oncology, a healthcare services network focused on cancer treatment and research. The primary objective of this study is to determine the objective response rate of satraplatin in this patient population. The study is expected to enroll 80 patients.

Satraplatin is currently in a phase III registration trial as a second-line chemotherapy treatment for patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer. The company is also opening new clinical studies to explore the potential of the drug in a number of additional tumor types.

"Satraplatin, as an oral drug that is relatively well tolerated, could provide an additional option for these (treatment experienced) patients. I look forward to exploring the compound's potential in this disease setting," said Dr Joyce O'Shaughnessy, co-director of US Oncology's breast cancer research committee.

Source: Datamonitor Newswire