The agreement provides for the NCI to sponsor a clinical trial of VQD-002 in combination with erlotinib (Tarceva), an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor. Recent reports have shown that the sensitivity of multiple types of solid tumors to EGFR inhibitors is dependent on inhibition of the PI3K pathway, suggesting that VQD-002 might be clinically useful to enhance response to erlotinib.
Michael Becker, president and CEO of VioQuest, said: “Through this agreement, we expand the clinical development opportunities for VQD-002 and gain access to the NCI’s broad network of scientists conducting NCI-sponsored clinical trials.”