Even though enormous strides have been made in the treatment of cancers in recent history, nearly 1.7 million new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S this year and close to 600 thousand will die from the disease. Cancer is an insidious group of diseases characterized by uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells.
Cancer can be caused by internal factors like genetic mutations or external factors, such as lifestyle choices or exposure to toxins. Sometimes these factors act together or in sequence to trigger the development of cancer. If the spread of abnormal cells isn’t con-trolled, it usually results in death. Generally accepted cancer treatments include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.
One common chemotherapeutic treatment for multiple cancers with proven efficacy is doxorubicin. Doxorubicin is administered as a single agent or in combination with other chemotherapy agents for greater effect in various treatment regimens. However, serious life-threatening heart damage can occur when using doxorubicin. In trying to save a life, the patient can be at risk of dying from the treatment.
CytRx Corporation (CYTR), a R&D biopharmaceutical company, may have the solution to this paradox and other challenges in cancer treatments. CYTR holds the exclusive worldwide rights to aldoxorubicin, and the company is initiating a Phase 3 pivotal trial. Aldoxorubicin has a novel design containing a linker technology engineered to release drugs near tumors and concentrate more of the drug directly to the tumor.
Aldoxorubicin has shown to be superior to doxorubicin in seven different tumor types of cancer including ovarian, lung, breast and pancreatic cancer, as well as several other cancers. This is the first drug candidate CYTR is developing based on their novel technology. Their linker technology has the proven ability to allow attachment of multiple pharmacologic agents and is designed to provide both greater anti-cancer activity and to reduce toxicity to the patient.
Dramatic results in Phase 1 clinical trials lend great promise to the potential efficacy of aldoxorubicin. In the trials, the drug was administered at up to six times the standard dosage of doxorubicin, with no increase in observed side effects. There were no observed cardiac toxicities and no drug-related patient deaths.
Aldoxorubicin has been granted orphan drug designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of patients with soft tissue sarcomas and pancreatic cancer. CYTR also has rights to two additional drug candidates, tamibarotene, and bafetinib.
The promise of initial studies suggests that more cancer killing drugs may be delivered where they’re needed most while patients experience fewer side effects with aldoxorubicin. If this promise proves up in Phase 3 trials, it should turn CYTR into a formidable cancer killer.
For additional information about Cytrx Corporation, aldoxorubicin, and CYTR’s drug pipeline, please visit www.cytrx.com
About MissionIR
MissionIR is committed to connecting the investment community with companies that have great potential and a strong dedication to building shareholder value. We know our reputation is based on the integrity of our clients and go to great lengths to ensure the companies represented adhere to sound business practices.
Sign up for “The Mission Report” at www.MissionIR.com
Please see disclaimer on the MissionIR website
http://www.missionir.com/disclaimer.html
