RxTrials Institute Drug Pipeline Alert

OncoGenex announced enrollment of the first patient in an open-label, dose-escalation, multicenter Phase I clinical study evaluating a new investigational drug, OGX-427, in patients with breast, ovarian, bladder, prostate or lung cancer.

According to OncoGenex, OGX-427 blocks production of heat shock protein 27 (Hsp27), a cell-survival protein that inhibits apoptotic cell death through multiple pathways.

The study, which will enroll a maximum of 54 patients with cancers known to overexpress Hsp27, will evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics and biological activity of OGX-427 alone and in combination with docetaxel, the company said.

All patients who enter the trial have failed therapies that are potentially curative or failed/refused other standard therapy, the company added.

According to the company, clinical sites in Canada and the U.S. will participate in the study.