Endocyte initiates Phase I study of tumor drug

The Phase I trial is a multi-center, open-label dose escalation study designed to evaluate the safety and tolerability of EC0489 in patients with refractory or metastatic cancer who have exhausted standard therapeutic options.

Participants also will be evaluated with EC20, Endocyte’s new molecular imaging agent. By targeting folate receptors, the EC20 imaging agent is being developed to allow clinicians to identify tumors that over-express the folate receptor. Using EC20, doctors may be able to identify, in advance, those patients who will benefit from Endocyte’s folate-targeted therapies such as EC0489.

Christopher Leamon, vice president of research at Endocyte, said: “The initiation of the Phase I trial of EC0489 represents another important milestone in the development of our product pipeline. Endocyte’s Drug Guidance System technology offers proven capabilities in targeting to deliver drugs directly to cancer cells while avoiding healthy cells.

“In EC0489, we have refined the technology that links our drug to cancer cells which may allow for treatment using higher doses of powerful drugs without the risk of serious side effects.”