Provectus initiates phase I trial in breast cancer

The trial is designed to evaluate the safety and preliminary efficacy of Provecta in five patients with recurrent breast carcinoma.

Each patient enrolled in the study is having Provecta injected into one or more tumors, which are observed for a period of 1-3 weeks thereafter. The patients then undergo standard surgery to remove their tumors, allowing thorough assessment of the effects of Provecta in breast cancer tissue and surrounding normal tissue.

Provecta is an agent that is retained in tumor cells while leaving normal tissue unharmed, thereby killing the tumor and sparing healthy tissue. Preliminary response data from metastatic melanoma patients undergoing similar treatment with Provecta have been comparable to that observed in the company’s preclinical studies of melanoma, breast carcinoma and liver cancer.

“This trial, running concurrently with our phase I trial in Australia of Provecta for treatment of metastatic melanoma, allows us to characterize the safety and preliminary efficacy of the drug while validating the hypothesis that Provecta has broad spectrum potential against a wide range of cancers. While these early data are encouraging, it is important to remember that further study will be necessary to definitively demonstrate efficacy,” commented Provectus CEO, Dr Craig Dees.