Aeterna Zentaris presents data of perifosine Phase 1 trial for recurrent pediatric solid tumors at ASCO

Jun 8 2010

Perifosine demonstrated to be safe and tolerable, with early signs of clinical benefit in advanced refractory pediatric neuroblastoma patients

Aeterna Zentaris Inc. (TSX: AEZ; Nasdaq: AEZS), (the "Company") a late-stage drug development company specialized in oncology and endocrine therapy, today announced that Phase 1 data of perifosine (KRX-0401) in recurrent pediatric solid tumors was presented yesterday in the pediatric solid tumor poster discussion session held at the 46th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) taking place in Chicago. Perifosine is the Company's novel, potentially first-in-class, oral anti-cancer agent that inhibits Akt activation in the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway. This study, conducted by the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center pediatric group, marks the first time that perifosine has been administered in a pediatric patient setting. Perifosine is also currently in Phase 3 trials in multiple myeloma and colorectal cancer, as well as in Phase 2 trials for multiple types of cancer.