HANA INITIATES TRIAL OF CHEMOTHERAPY AGENT

Hana Biosciences has begun a Phase I trial of Sphingosome-encapsulated Vinorelbine in patients with advanced solid tumors.

This study is designed to assess the safety, tolerability and preliminary efficacy of the treatment. Hana is developing this compound for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer and breast cancer, among others. The study is being conducted at the Cancer Therapy and Research Center, San Antonio, and McGill University, Montreal.

Vinorelbine, a semi-synthetic vinca alkaloid, is a microtubule inhibitor that has been approved for use as a single agent or in combination with cisplatin for the first-line treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. Vinorelbine is also widely used for the treatment of breast cancer.

Sphingosomal encapsulation is a targeted liposomal drug delivery platform, which is designed to significantly increase tumor targeting and duration of exposure for cell cycle-specific anti-cancer agents. Encapsulation also allows an increase in dose intensity without increased toxicity, as found in preclinical studies.