Poniard targets 2010 launch for picoplatin

The USA's Poniard Pharmaceuticals says that in the coming year it expects to complete enrollment in an ongoing registration trial in small  cell lung cancer of lead drug picoplatin.

"We believe the results of this trial could support an [New Drug  Application] filing, leading to approval and commercialization of  picoplatin in 2010," said company chief executive Jerry McMahon.

"We continue to execute our clinical strategy to broaden picoplatin's  potential as a platform product. We plan to present clinical data from  our other ongoing Phase II colorectal and prostate cancer trials at  multiple medical conferences. These data, together with picoplatin data  in over 750 patients in a broad range of tumor types supports future  development and use of picoplatin for the treatment of lung, colorectal,  ovarian, prostate, breast, head and neck, bladder, pancreatic and other  cancers," he added.