New drug designed to stop cancer from spreading by preventing mitosis

The Translational Genomics Research InstituteDec 9 2009

NMS-1286937 is designed to halt cancer cells from dividing

TGen Clinical Research Services at Scottsdale Healthcare (TCRS) is the world's first clinical trials site for a new drug designed to halt cancer cell division.

NMS-1286937 is produced by Nerviano Medical Sciences of Milan, Italy's largest pharmaceutical research and development facility. NMS-1286937 is designed to stop cancer from spreading by preventing mitosis, the process of cell division.

"Cancer is driven by abnormal cell division and growth. Striking cancer cells at a key mechanism for growth opens up new possibilities, especially for lung and head and neck cancer patients," said Dr. Glen J. Weiss, Director of Thoracic Oncology at TCRS.

TCRS is a partnership between the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) and Scottsdale Healthcare that enables laboratory discoveries to be quickly turned into targeted therapies that can be tested with patients at the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center in Scottsdale.

This Phase 1 clinical trial of as many as 40 adults with solid tumors will help determine if NMS-1286937 is safe and effective, and should lead to further clinical assessment.

Dr. Daniel Von Hoff - TGen's Physician-In-Chief, Chief Scientific Officer at TCRS and principal investigator for the trial - described NMS-1286937 as a potent and selective polo-like kinase 1 inhibitor designed to stop cancer cells from dividing by targeting the process of mitosis. High expression of polo-like kinase 1 is present in a wide range of cancers, including lung, colorectal, breast, pancreatic, head, neck, thyroid and ovarian cancer.

NMS-1286937 will be administered orally. Preclinical studies demonstrated that NMS-1286937 is effective against even aggressive cancers known to be resistant to the current standard of care.

"We at Nerviano are excited about the prospects of this new drug and are pleased to be partnering in this endeavor with TGen and Scottsdale Healthcare,'' said Maria Adele Pacciarini, Clinical Programme Director in Clinical Oncology at Nerviano Medical Sciences.