Poniard begins Ph II picoplatin HRPC trial

California, USA-based firm Poniard Pharmaceuticals has initiated a Phase II trial of intravenous picoplatin, in combination with docetaxel and prednisone, as a treatment for patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer. The agent, which is the company's lead product candidate, is designed to overcome the problem of platinum resistance and to prolong time to disease relapse.

Picoplatin is also being studies as a therapy for small cell lung cancer in the Phase III SPEAR trial under the Food and Drug Administration's Special Protocol Assessment criteria, and in a Phase I/II study as a first-line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer.