Patrys enrols first patient in bone marrow cancer trial 

(MENAFN - ProactiveInvestors - Australia) Patrys (ASX: PAB) has enrolled the first of an initial 12 patients in a Phase I/IIa trial of its lead anti-cancer product PAT-SM6 in the treatment of multiple myeloma.

This follows close on the heels of news earlier this month the company had received approval to begin the planned trial in Australia, expanding on earlier approval in Germany.

Multiple myeloma is a cancer of the plasma cells in bone marrow, with the disease characterised by too many malignant (cancerous) plasma cells being produced.

This leads to bone disease, anaemia, kidney problems, reduced immunity and infections.

With a five year survival rate of around 30%, multiple myeloma remains largely incurable, with new therapies needed to treat patients with this disorder.

The trial is being conducted in the Department of Haematology and Oncology at the University Hospital of Wrzburg, Germany.

It is an open-label multi dose escalation trial in relapsed and multi-resistant patients with multiple myeloma who have typically failed all currently marketed drugs and have a very poor prognosis.

Initially, 12 patients will be enrolled in four dosing groups and will receive a minimum of two cycles of treatment, with additional cycles of treatment offered if a patient shows a partial response.

The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of escalating doses of PAT-SM6, while the secondary objective is to measure efficacy.

Initial data should be available in the March quarter 2013.