Phase I Clinical Trial for CHIR-258

Chiron Corporation (Nasdaq:CHIR) and the Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium (MMRC) announced the initiation of a Phase I clinical trial of CHIR-258 in multiple myeloma. CHIR-258, an orally available kinase inhibitor developed by Chiron, is the first drug candidate to undergo clinical study through the MMRC, a non-profit organization that integrates leading academic institutions with the goal of accelerating drug development in multiple myeloma.

This Phase I trial of CHIR-258 in multiple myeloma is designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles of CHIR-258 in these patients.

Unlike many kinase inhibitors that only target vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), CHIR-258 inhibits receptors in the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) pathway, as well as VEGF and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). FGF receptor tyrosine kinase inhibition is potentially of therapeutic significance to a group of myeloma patients whose cancer cells express high levels of surface FGF receptors.

CHIR-258 is a novel, orally available tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Preclinical data show that CHIR-258 works to inhibit multiple kinases associated with different cancers, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and multiple myeloma.

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