AETERNA ZENTARIS STARTS TRIAL OF PERIFOSINE

AEterna Zentaris has initiated a European multicenter Phase II trial of perifosine, a novel, first-in-class, oral signal transduction inhibitor, in combination with radiotherapy, in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This exploratory, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial will assess the efficacy and safety of a 150 mg daily dose of perifosine when combined with radiotherapy in 160 patients with inoperable Stage III NSCLC.

Patients will receive perifosine daily for five to six weeks, starting seven days prior to radiotherapy, and will be followed up for at least 12 months. The primary endpoint of this trial will be the extent and duration of local control -- the absence of tumor recurrence or progression in the area that has been irradiated.