Spectrum, GPC Biotech say studies show satraplatin combination results in therapeutic synergy against cancer

By E. Janene Geiss

Philadelphia, Nov. 16 - Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Inc. and partner GPC Biotech said that new preclinical data on lead candidate satraplatin shows that when combined with paclitaxel and administered sequentially, the combination results in therapeutic synergy in non-small cell lung carcinoma.

The most favorable results were demonstrated when paclitaxel was administered first, followed by satraplatin. These results may be useful in developing appropriate dosing schedules for clinical testing of a combination therapy, officials said in a news release.

Another analysis evaluated the cell-killing effect of satraplatin, erlotinib and paclitaxel alone and in combination with satraplatin in various tumor cell lines. Paclitaxel and 5-FU are used widely for the treatment of various cancers, and Tarceva is a targeted therapy being used in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer and pancreatic cancer.

The data show that the effect of a combined sequential treatment with satraplatin was greater than the effect of the individual drug treatment, official said.

The results support further clinical studies of satraplatin in combination with these drugs, officials said.

"The data presented support the strategy of evaluating satraplatin in combination with a variety of other anticancer treatments and are insightful in helping to determine combinations and regimens that warrant further study. We plan to apply this important research to our clinical development plans, which include the initiation of a clinical trial evaluating satraplatin in combination with paclitaxel," Rajesh C. Shrotriya, chairman, chief executive officer and president of Spectrum, said in the statement.

The studies were poster presentations Wednesday in Philadelphia at the AACR-NCI-EORTA conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics: Discovery, Biology and Clinical Applications.

Irvine, Calif.-based Spectrum is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on discovery of drugs to treat cancer and unmet medical needs.

Satraplatin is being developed by Spectrum's partner, Munich, Germany-based GPC Biotech, a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering new anticancer drugs.

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