HemaQuest initiates HQK-1001 Phase 2 study in sickle cell disease

HemaQuest Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (HemaQuest), a biotechnology company focused on developing small molecule therapeutics to treat hemoglobin disorders, announced today that clinical investigators have enrolled the first patient in a randomized multi-dose Phase 2 study of HQK-1001 in patients with sickle cell disease. The study, which is being conducted by investigators in clinical sites in the US, Canada, Jamaica, Egypt and Lebanon, is expected to enroll approximately 50 patients. The primary objective is safety and tolerability of HQK-1001. There are several secondary objectives including an increase in fetal hemoglobin production. HemaQuest expects interim results from the study in late 2011 and final results in the first quarter of 2012.

"Based on the promising results from our prior Phase 2 clinical studies, we are excited to initiate this clinical study testing higher dose levels and longer duration of therapy to more fully characterize the therapeutic potential of HQK-1001 in sickle cell disease," said HemaQuest Chief Medical Officer Richard G. Ghalie, MD. "This is an important next step toward potentially making HQK-1001 available as a treatment for this devastating disease in underserved populations around the world."