Altiprimod clinical trial update

Callisto Pharmaceuticals, a New York biopharmaceutical company, has received approval from three of its clinical research sites to test its anticancer drug candidate at higher doses.

Atiprimod is being developed as a treatment for the serious blood cancer multiple myeloma. So far the phase I/IIa studies have not demonstrated a maximum tolerated dose for the treatment. Therefore, Callisto amended the trial protocols to study Atiprimod at the higher doses.

The continuation of the studies will enable the researchers to use higher doses of Atiprimod as they study the drug's efficacy as a treatment for multiple myeloma. Callisto said some positive therapeutic effects were observed even at the first dosage levels.

"This next wave of research is where we'll expect to see Atiprimod showing some significantly positive activity against multiple myeloma along with further safety data," said Dr Donald Picker, Callisto's executive vice president of R&D.

Atiprimod is presently in two phase I/IIa clinical trials; the first for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma patients, while the second is in advanced cancer.