Infinity Pharmaceuticals Initiates Second Phase 1 Clinical Trial of Hsp90 Inhibitor IPI-504

Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has initiated a second phase 1 clinical trial of IPI-504, a heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) inhibitor and lead investigational anticancer agent. The open-label, dose-escalation trial will evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetic profile, and potential efficacy of IPI-504 in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) resistant to Gleevec (imatinib mesylate). This trial is being conducted at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Massachusetts, under the direction of George Demetri, MD. The company's Hsp90 inhibitor has shown promising results in preclinical studies, demonstrating the ability to kill GIST cancer cells as effectively as Gleevec in vitro, and even more effectively in cells resistant to Gleevec.

Key Takeaways:

• Infinity Pharmaceuticals has initiated a second phase 1 clinical trial of IPI-504, a Hsp90 inhibitor, to evaluate its safety and potential efficacy in patients with GIST resistant to Gleevec.
• The trial is being conducted at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Massachusetts, under the direction of George Demetri, MD.
• Preclinical studies have shown that IPI-504 kills GIST cancer cells as effectively as Gleevec in vitro and even more effectively in cells resistant to Gleevec.
• Hsp90 inhibitors, like IPI-504, force cancer cells to "commit suicide" through a process of programmed cell death or apoptosis.
• GIST is a life-threatening disease highly resistant to traditional chemotherapy or radiation treatment, and IPI-504 may offer a new treatment option.
• The American Cancer Society reports that GIST is the most frequent form of gastrointestinal sarcoma.

Statistics:

• IPI-504 has demonstrated broad antitumor activity in animal models as a single agent as well as in combination with existing anticancer therapeutics.
• 70% of GIST cases are caused by specific mutations in cellular signaling enzymes called KIT or PDGFRA (American Cancer Society).
• Gleevec has been effective in treating GIST, but the disease often becomes resistant to the treatment, making IPI-504 a promising alternative.
• Hsp90 inhibitors, like IPI-504, are a new class of anticancer agents that offer promise in treating a range of cancers (The American Cancer Society).

Sources:

• Health & Medicine Week editors (2006). "Infinity Pharmaceuticals Initiates Second Phase 1 Clinical Trial of Hsp90 Inhibitor IPI-504"
• NewsRx.com
• Health & Medicine Week
• American Cancer Society