The trial is designed to monitor the safety and tolerability of PBI-1402 and whether it has additive effects when combined with the current drug for anemia, erythropoietin (EPO) in this particular patient population.
“PBI-1402 does not bind to the same cell surface receptor molecule as EPO, and therefore offers three potential uses for PBI-1402 to treat anemic patients: as a stand alone treatment, in patients not responsive to EPO, and in combination with EPO,” stated Dr Christopher Penney, chief scientific officer for the Therapeutic Unit of ProMetic.
“An additive effect on red blood cell progenitors in human bone marrow combining PBI-1402 and EPO in in vitro cell culture has already been demonstrated,” commented Dr Lyne Gagnon, Director of Biology at ProMetic.
This clinical trial will be undertaken at the Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital in Montreal. Patients enrolled in the study will be treated for a period of 12 weeks followed by a four week observational period.