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- Posted Wednesday December 9, 2009
New international study targets rare cancer bringing hope for advanced thymic cancer patients
PHA-848125AC tested by TGen Clinical Research Services at
Scottsdale Healthcare
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Dec. 9, 2009 -- The Translational Genomics
Research Institute (TGen) and Scottsdale Healthcare are testing a
new drug specifically for thymic cancer based on early promising
results at Scottsdale Healthcare.
PHA-848125AC is produced by Nerviano Medical Sciences of Milan,
Italy's largest pharmaceutical research and development facility.
It is designed to stop abnormal cell division and duplication, a
common feature of cancer.
"From the initial trial in patients with advanced cancers, this
drug is well tolerated. We are now focusing on thymic cancer based
on our initial results, to hopefully find a treatment that is
successful for this rare cancer - where there is no standard
approved treatment," said Dr. Glen J. Weiss, principal investigator
for this trial and Director of Thoracic Oncology at TGen Clinical
Research Services (TCRS) at Scottsdale Healthcare.
TCRS is a partnership between TGen and Scottsdale Healthcare that
enables laboratory discoveries to be quickly turned into targeted
therapies that can be tested with patients at the Virginia G. Piper
Cancer Center in Scottsdale.
This Phase 2 clinical trial of as many as 60 adults with advanced
thymic cancer will help determine if PHA-848125AC is an active drug
for this disease. The thymus is a small organ near the lungs and
heart that is a key part of the body's immune system during fetal
and childhood development.
Dr. Jeffrey Isaacs of Southwest Hematology Oncology in Phoenix, has
seen first-hand how this agent made a difference for patients with
thymic cancer. He said he is enthusiastic about a drug specifically
targeting this rare cancer population to hopefully improve their
outcomes.
PHA-848125AC will be administered orally. The study will be open at
Scottsdale Healthcare, the Institute Gustave Roussy and the Hopital
Larrey in France and at the University of Turin, San Luigi Hospital
in Italy.
For more information about clinical trials and eligibility, contact
TCRS's patient care coordinator Joyce Ingold, R.N., at
480-323-1339, toll free at 1-877-273-3713 or at
[email protected].
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About the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale
Healthcare
The Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare offers
diagnosis, treatment, research, prevention and support in its
facilities at the Scottsdale Healthcare Shea Medical Center,
attracting patients from across Arizona and the U.S. Groundbreaking
cancer research is conducted through its Scottsdale Clinical
Research Institute and TGen Clinical Research Service. Scottsdale
Healthcare is the not-for-profit parent organization of the
Scottsdale Healthcare Shea Medical Center, Scottsdale Healthcare
Osborn Medical Center and Scottsdale Healthcare Thompson Peak
Hospital, Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center, Scottsdale Clinical
Research Institute and Scottsdale Healthcare Foundation. For
additional information, please visit www.shc.org.
Press Contact:
Keith Jones, Director of Public Relations
Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare
480-882-4412
[email protected]
About TGen
The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) is a Phoenix,
Arizona-based non-profit organization dedicated to conducting
groundbreaking research with life changing results. Research at
TGen is focused on helping patients with diseases such as cancer,
neurological disorders and diabetes. TGen is on the cutting edge of
translational research where investigators are able to unravel the
genetic components of common and complex diseases. Working with
collaborators in the scientific and medical communities, TGen
believes it can make a substantial contribution to the efficiency
and effectiveness of the translational process. TGen is affiliated
with the Van Andel Research Institute in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
For more information, please visit: www.tgen.org.
Press Contact:
Steve Yozwiak
TGen Senior Science Writer
602-343-8704
[email protected]
About Nerviano Medical Sciences
Nerviano Medical Sciences is the largest pharmaceutical research
and development facility in Italy, and one of the largest
oncology-focused, integrated discovery and development companies in
Europe. NMS was spun off from Pfizer in May 2004. Since then, NMS
Oncology has brought into clinical trials three first in class
NCEs. NMS Oncology has more than 20 targeted drugs in preclinical
phase, along with five innovative cancer drugs in Phase I and Phase
II clinical studies in cancer. In the last three years, NMS
Oncology has successfully generated two high quality anti-cancer
clinical candidates every year. For more information, please visit:
www.nervianoms.com/cont/en/home-page/0705/2500/homepage.asp.
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