Ziopharm drug shows strong anticancer activity

Importantly, the results were comparable for ZIO-201 administered as a single dose, a schedule currently being explored in phase I clinical study, or as three consecutive daily doses, as is scheduled in the initial phase I and the sarcoma phase I/II trials. Also, ZIO-201 was active in cyclophosphamide-resistant osteosarcoma, the most common pediatric bone cancer in the US. Children presenting initially with metastatic disease typically have a very low survival rate.

“I think this data is particularly exciting because it suggests that ZIO-201 may be an effective new agent that potentially bypasses mechanisms of resistance and toxicity that limit the use of cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide,” commented Dr Anders Kolb, assistant professor of pediatrics at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Resistance to cyclophosphamide (CPA) and ifosfamide (IFOS) is a major obstacle to overcome in cancer treatment. CPA and IFOS are pro-drugs that cannot kill cells unless activated by an intracellular enzyme.

These data were presented at the Connective Tissue Oncology Society meeting in Venice, Italy.