SPECTRUM PHARMACEUTICALS ANNOUNCES START OF TRIAL EVALUATING SATRAPLATIN PLUS TAXOL

Spectrum Pharmaceuticals has announced the beginning of accrual of a Phase II study evaluating the company's lead drug candidate, satraplatin, in combination with Taxol (paclitaxel) as a first-line therapy in patients with unresectable advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Satraplatin is currently in a Phase III registrational trial as a second-line chemotherapy treatment for patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer.

The Phase II study is an open-label trial being conducted at the Sarah Cannon Research Institute in Nashville, Tenn. The primary objective of this study is to determine the objective response rate of satraplatin in combination with Taxol in this patient population. The study will also evaluate time to progression and overall survival. The study is expected to enroll up to 40 patients.