Alnylam enters Ph I with Tekmira RNAi cancer drug

USA-based Alnylam Pharmaceuticals has initiated a Phase I trial of ALN-VSP, an RNAi therapeutic developed by Canada-based firm Tekmira for  the treatment of advanced liver cancers, including hepatocellular  carcinoma.

The multicenter, open-label, dose-escalation study will enroll around 55  patients presenting advanced solid tumors with liver involvement who  have failed to respond to, or have progressed after, standard treatment.  The primary objective is to evaluate the safety, tolerability and  pharmacokinetics of intravenous ALN-VSP, including demonstration of the  maximum tolerated dose. Other exploratory objectives include the  assessment of tumor response, change in tumor blood flow or vascular  permeability and change in plasma biomarkers of angiogenesis.