FDAnews
www.fdanews.com/articles/82387-neorx-announces-orphan-drug-designation-for-picoplatin

NEORX ANNOUNCES ORPHAN-DRUG DESIGNATION FOR PICOPLATIN

November 11, 2005

NeoRx has received orphan drug designation from the FDA for the company's investigational product picoplatin, a next-generation platinum therapy, for the treatment of small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

Picoplatin is an intravenous platinum chemotherapeutic agent specifically designed to overcome platinum resistance. It is currently being studied in an ongoing randomized, open-label, multicenter Phase II clinical trial in patients with platinum-resistant or refractory SCLC. The trial is presently open to enrollment at approximately 25 clinical sites throughout the U.S. and Canada. NeoRx plans to commence clinical trials of picoplatin in Europe in the first quarter of 2006.