Monday, October 17, 2011

Infinity moves pancreatic cancer drug target into Phase 2 trial

By Julie M. Donnelly, Boston Business Journal

Infinity Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: INFI) has completed enrolling 122 patients in a Phase 2 study for its potential treatment for pancreatic cancer, called IPI-926.

The Cambridge-based biotechnology company is testing the drug in combination with the approved drug Gemzar, marketed by Eli Lilly & Co. (NYSE: LLY), versus Gemzar alone, in patients with previously untreated pancreatic cancer. The trial was launched last February.

“We are pleased to reach our target enrollment in this trial ahead of schedule, underscoring the urgent need for new treatment options that can make a meaningful difference for patients with pancreatic cancer,” Dr. Robert Ross, vice president of clinical development at Infinity, said in a statement.

The potential therapy is an oral medication that seeks to inhibit the growth of thick fibrous tissue that supports tumors and blocks chemotherapy from reaching the tumor effectively.

A small Phase 1b study on the drug candidate found that 31 percent of patients responded to the combination of the two drugs, versus typical response rates of about 10 percent for Gemzar alone.

The company has also just launched a Phase 2 trial to test IPI-926 in a type of bone marrow cancer, myelofibrosis. A third Phase 2 trial on the drug candidate is ongoing, studying its efficacy against a rare, life- threatening cancer of the cartilage, chondrosarcoma.