ProMetic Compound Increases Red Blood Cell Count in Study

Canada’s ProMetic Life Sciences’ investigational compound PBI-1402 increased red blood cell count and hemoglobin level in patients with chemotherapy-induced anemia in a Phase II trial.

In the open-label trial, the first two of three cohorts received PBI-1402 once daily at doses ranging from 44 mg/kg to 66 mg/kg. Results of these first 12 patients demonstrated that 83 percent of patients had a significant increase in red blood cell count from baseline, and 66 percent of patients had a significant increase in hemoglobin, ProMetic said.

For those who responded to treatment, the mean increase in hemoglobin level was 1.1 g/dL from the baseline value of 9.8 g/dL. In nonresponders, PBI-1402 stabilized red blood cell count and hemoglobin level.