ENZON TO BEGIN TRIALS OF TWO CANCER TREATMENTS

Enzon Pharmaceuticals has initiated a Phase I clinical trial of Oncaspar to assess its safety and potential utility in the treatment of advanced solid tumors and lymphomas. The multicenter, open-label, dose-escalation trial is designed to assess the safety and maximum tolerated dose of Oncaspar in combination with Gemzar (gemcitabine HCl) in patients with advanced solid tumors and lymphomas.

The company has also announced the FDA completed review of the its investigational new drug application for the use of recombinant human mannose-binding lectin (MBL) for the prevention and treatment of severe infections in patients with multiple myeloma with low levels of MBL undergoing high-dose chemotherapy and hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation. Studies have shown a correlation between low MBL levels and susceptibility to serious infections in patients who are immunosuppressed from chemotherapy. Clinical trials are expected to begin later this year.