The objectives of the study are to determine the maximum tolerated dose, and to evaluate the safety and pharmacokinetics of the drug. Up to 40 patients will be enrolled in the study.
“We’re delighted with the initiation of Celera’s first clinical trial with CRA-024781, which has been approved under our first investigational drug application filed with the FDA in May 2005,” said Dr Robert Booth, chief scientific officer of Celera Genomics.
CRA-024781 is an HDAC inhibitor, and as such it targets HDAC enzymes resulting in inhibition of the proliferation of cancer cells, and induction of cancer cell death. Celera Genomics recently reported data at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) meeting in April 2005, showing the efficacy of CRA-024781 as an HDAC inhibitor in xenograft cancer models.
The company is also currently trialing another HDAC inhibitor, CRA-026440, which is proceeding through preclinical development.