Final data from Poniard Pharmaceuticals' randomized Phase 2 trial of picoplatin announced

Poniard Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: PARD), a biopharmaceutical company focused on innovative oncology therapies, today announced final data from a randomized, controlled Phase 2 trial of picoplatin in metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) patients.  The study met its primary objective, as picoplatin in combination with 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin (FOLPI regimen) was associated with a statistically significant reduction in neurotoxicity (p <0.004) compared to oxaliplatin given in combination with 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin (FOLFOX regimen).  Results also suggested that FOLPI had similar efficacy to FOLFOX.

"We believe that these Phase 2 data confirm picoplatin's potential as an alternative to oxaliplatin in the first-line treatment of metastatic CRC and will support the design of a Phase 3 study," said Jerry McMahon, Ph.D., chairman and CEO of Poniard.  "We plan to schedule an end of Phase 2 meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to discuss these data and a potential registration strategy for picoplatin in CRC.  Our ultimate goal is to secure a strategic partnership to support further development of picoplatin in CRC and other solid tumor indications, including prostate and ovarian cancers."

The picoplatin Phase 2 CRC data were presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's 2010 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium in Orlando, Fla., during today's General Poster Session.

Phase 2 CRC Trial Design and Results

The randomized, controlled Phase 2 trial evaluated picoplatin as a neuropathy-sparing alternative to oxaliplatin for the first-line treatment of metastatic CRC in 101 patients who had not received prior chemotherapy.  The trial's primary objective was to measure the relative incidence and severity of neuropathy in the FOLPI regimen compared to the FOLFOX regimen.  In addition, the study measured comparative safety and efficacy (assessed by disease control, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS)) data; however, the study was not powered to assess the statistical significance of these secondary endpoints.  The final Phase 2 data indicated that:

• FOLPI is associated with a statistically significant reduction in neurotoxicity compared to FOLFOX (HR <0.30; p <0.004).  Neuropathy, regardless of Grade, was 26 percent in FOLPI-treated patients and 62 percent in FOLFOX-treated patients. No Grade 3/4 neuropathy was observed with FOLPI.
• FOLPI had similar efficacy to FOLFOX as measured by:
  • Disease Control of 75 percent and 76 percent for FOLPI and FOLFOX, respectively; (Relative risk 1.02 (95 percent Confidence Interval (CI) 0.79-1.32),>
  • PFS of 6.8 months and 7.0 months for FOLPI and FOLFOX, respectively: HR 0.95 (95 percent CI 0.63-1.45),>
  • OS of 13.6 months and 15.6 months for FOLPI and FOLFOX, respectively: HR 1.17 (95 percent CI 0.72-1.91),>
• Six-month and one-year survival rates were 80 percent and 52 percent for FOLPI and 83 percent and 55 percent for FOLFOX, respectively.
• More patients who discontinued FOLFOX had associated neuropathy; neurotoxicity was not dose-limiting for FOLPI.  More patients who discontinued FOLPI had associated hematological events than with FOLFOX.
• No hypersensitivity, cardiac or nephrotoxicity was observed with FOLPI or FOLFOX.
• FOLPI had more frequent and severe, but manageable, thrombocytopenia and neutropenia; complications were rare, with only 1 patient (2 percent) having febrile neutropenia and 2 patients (4 percent) having minor bleeding issues.
• Most other toxicities, including gastrointestinal toxicity, were similar for both regimens except for alopecia, which was more frequent with FOLPI.