CALLISTO PHARMA TO BEGIN ATIPRIMOD TRIAL

Callisto Pharmaceuticals will begin a single-agent Phase II clinical trial of Atiprimod in advanced carcinoid cancer patients. The company said it decided to proceed directly to Phase II trial based on a careful review of Atiprimod safety and toxicity data obtained from the two ongoing trials of Atiprimod in advanced cancer and multiple myeloma patients, respectively. The company further added that it finalized a fixed dosing regimen for planned single-agent Phase II trial in advanced carcinoid cancer patients.

Atiprimod is an orally bio-available small molecule drug that displays multiple mechanisms of action. The drug is shown to inhibit secretion of VEGF and IL-6, elicit an apoptotic response or programmed cellular death, and inhibit phosphorylation of key kinases involved in tumor progression.