Adherex initiates ADH-1 cancer trial

This study will use a daily dosing schedule with ADH-1 (Exherin) administered Monday through to Friday every three weeks with the aim of defining dose tolerance and anti-tumor activity.

Whilst evaluating the safety of the drug, its effect on tumor vasculature will be assessed in some patients through dynamic contrast enhanced MRI. The trial is expected to enroll approximately 40 patients whose tumors express N-cadherin.

“ADH-1 has a single molecular target, N-cadherin, which is present on certain tumor cells and tumor vessels,” said Dr William Peters, Adherex chairman and CEO. “In addition to assessing the anti-tumor activity of ADH-1, we wish to investigate the drug’s impact on blood flow to the tumor. By doing so, we hope to gain important information for future clinical studies, for example, the optimal schedule for administering our drug in combination with other anticancer drugs.”

In addition to this trial, Adherex is currently conducting a phase I/II trial in Europe investigating a weekly dosing schedule as well as a phase II trial in Canada evaluating an every three week dosing schedule.

The goals of the phase I/II and phase II programs are threefold: i) to determine the optimal dose and schedule for administration of our drug, ii) to estimate the level of anti-tumor activity in the selected tumor types, and iii) to identify the tumor types most suitable for future phase III trials.