Enzon Pharmaceuticals treats first patient in Phase 2 studies of PEG-SN38

Jan 6 2010

Enzon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ENZN) today announced that the first patient has been treated in the Phase 2 studies of PEG-SN38 for metastatic breast cancer. PEG-SN38 or EZN-2208 is Enzon’s PEGylated form of SN38, the active metabolite of the cancer drug Camptosar^® (irinotecan HCl injection). The study is designed to evaluate the efficacy of single-agent PEG-SN38 in two groups of patients who have received prior therapy regimens of anthracycline and taxane or anthracycline, taxane and Xeloda. The PEG-SN38 compound is currently being evaluated in a Phase 2 study for metastatic colorectal cancer.

“Irinotecan is known to be active in metastatic breast cancer but toxicity has limited its broad use. We are very excited about evaluating the novel PEG-SN38 compound in hopes that it will exhibit an improved treatment for metastatic breast cancer patients”

"We continue to be encouraged by our PEG-SN38 compound and are pleased to be advancing it into additional areas of cancer,” said Jeffrey H. Buchalter, Enzon's president and chief executive officer. "We look forward to providing updates on PEG-SN38 and the rest of our novel pipeline as data becomes available.”

“Irinotecan is known to be active in metastatic breast cancer but toxicity has limited its broad use. We are very excited about evaluating the novel PEG-SN38 compound in hopes that it will exhibit an improved treatment for metastatic breast cancer patients,” said Dr Joyce O'Shaughnessy, Baylor-Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center.