Biomira Inc. has announced that it has selected PX-866 as its next clinical development candidate.
PX-866 is an inhibitor of the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3 kinase)/ PTEN/AKT pathway, an important survival signaling pathway that is activated in many types of human cancer, including glioblastoma. Preclinical data presented this past weekend at the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting demonstrate that PX-866 has activity in an intracranial model of glioma.
"The preclinical data for PX-866, including those presented at AACR, are very promising and warrant advancing this small molecule compound to clinical development," said Robert L. Kirkman, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Biomira. "The data presented this weekend are particularly compelling, as they provide evidence of PX-866 activity in an intracranial model of glioma, a disease that accounts for 77 percent of all malignant brain cancers and is refractory to conventional therapies. We are in the process of completing preclinical studies designed to support the expected filing of an investigational new drug (IND) application for PX-866 later this year. Expanding and advancing our clinical pipeline is a key priority for Biomira, and we are on track to have four programs in clinical development by the end of 2007."