Wednesday May 13, 3:51 pm Eastern Time
MGI PHARMA sees promise for anticancer drug
MINNEAPOLIS, May 13 (Reuters) - MGI Pharma Inc. said on Wednesday that
in a series of animal studies, its anticancer
drug MGI 114 completely eliminated a variety of solid human tumors
transplanted to mice.
``Based upon an increasing body of published preclinical data, we
believe MGI 114 is just as promising, and just as
unproven, as other cancer therapies recently discussed in the media,''
MGI Chief Operating Officer James Adam was quoted
by the company as telling MGI's annual meeting.
Adam said the company still did not completely understand how MGI 114
worked, but the drug interrupted DNA replication
in tumor cells, causing the cells to die.
MGI is now working to complete Phase I human safety studies and is
preparing for a series of Phase II efficacy trials
designed to determine whether MG 114 works as well in humans as it does
in mice, Adam said.
Initial Phase II trials would most likely involve ovarian, pancreatic
and hormone refractory prostate cancers, the company
said.
The National Cancer Institute is also preparing to start its Phase II
trials, which will initially include two studies each in breast,
colon, renal, ovarian and non-small cell lung cancer, and one study in
cervical cancer, it said.
The NCI is also planning a Phase I human safety study in pediatric
cancer patients, MGI said.
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