Spectrum drug SPI-1620 enhances delivery of paclitaxel to tumors, study finds

By Angela McDaniels

Seattle, Nov. 18 - Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Inc. said data from a study conducted by Dr. N.V. Rajeshkumar of the University of Illinois at Chicago shows its drug SPI-1620 significantly enhances the efficacy of paclitaxel.

Animals treated with SPI-1620 followed by treatment with paclitaxel 15 minutes later showed better efficacy when compared to control animals in terms of tumor volume, delivery of paclitaxel and regression.

Only groups treated with SPI-1620 showed complete regression, the company said.

The findings show that SPI-1620 could be used as a tumor-selective vasodilator to enhance delivery and efficacy of paclitaxel and other chemotherapeutic agents.

The data was presented during the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer, National Cancer Institute and American Association for Cancer Research International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics in Philadelphia.

The information was also published in the current issue of a peer-reviewed journal Breast Cancer Research and Treatment.

"In addition to the enhanced delivery of paclitaxel to breast tumors as shown in this publication, we now have evidence that this approach is applicable to the delivery of other cancer drugs in other cancer models. We look forward to moving this product into the clinic in 2006," chairman, chief executive officer and president Rajesh C. Shrotriya said in a company news release.

SPI-1620 is an endothelin B agonist that stimulates receptors on endothelial cells lining blood vessels to selectively dilate blood vessels in the tumor, resulting in a transient increase in blood flow and an increase in the delivery of anticancer drugs to the tumor, the company said.

Based in Irvine, Calif., Spectrum is a pharmaceutical company that acquires, develops and commercializes prescription drug products for the treatment of cancer and other unmet medical needs.

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