ZIO-201 is the active metabolite of ifosfamide, a frequently used, yet highly toxic, treatment for sarcoma. ZIO-201 is designed to deliver therapeutic activity at higher doses with less toxicity than that associated with ifosfamide.
An ongoing phase I study suggests ZIO-201 may be given at doses that deliver more of the active metabolite (IPM) than can be achieved using ifosfamide.
“The potential to safely deliver ZIO-201 at high doses compared with ifosfamide represents a potential advance in the treatment of this disease,” commented Dr Robert Benjamin, clinical medical director, Sarcoma Center at MD Anderson Cancer Center. “We know that high-dose ifosfamide is an effective drug in treating patients with sarcoma.”
The study will take place at leading cancer centers in the US and the UK, including The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, University of Michigan and the Royal Marsden Hospital.
In addition, the company currently anticipates conducting phase II studies in adult and pediatric sarcoma, along with an exploratory phase II trial in lymphoma.