ProMetic begins enrollment of phase 1b/2 trial of PBI-1402 for cancer, anemia

By Lisa Kerner

Erie, Pa., April 10 - ProMetic BioSciences Inc. said it has started enrollment of patients for its phase 1b/2 clinical trial to monitor the safety and efficacy of its of PBI-1402 in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and suffering from anemia.

The trial, to be conducted in Montreal, will consist of 30 patients in two cohorts, according to a news release from the company, the therapeutic unit of ProMetic Life Sciences Inc.

Each cohort will receive PBI-1402 or placebo for two months, extended up to an additional four months if results are favorable. The first cohort will receive PBI-1402 at a dose suggested by the phase 1 trial and adjusted accordingly for the for the second cohort.

ProMetic said several experiments demonstrated that PBI-1402 promotes the growth of red blood cells and protects tissues against the toxic effects of chemotherapy in mice.

"These animal studies, the increase in reticulocytes in healthy humans and the additive effect of PBI-1402 with erythropoietin (EPO) on human and mouse bone marrow cells treated in vitro, support the rationale for first studying the effect of PBI-1402 in cancer patients," chief scientific officer for the Therapeutic Unit Dr. Christopher Penney said in the release.

"The mechanism of action of PBI-1402 is different from that of EPO and as such may address the resistance to EPO commonly observed in patients suffering from anemia associated with cancer or chemotherapy."

Data on PBI-1402 will be presented at BIO 2006 Business Forum, part of BIO 2006, the Biotechnology Industry Organization's Annual International Convention being held in Chicago.

ProMetic Life Sciences Inc. is a Montreal-based biopharmaceutical company specializing in the research, development, manufacture and marketing of applications derived from its proprietary Mimetic Ligand enabling technology.

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