Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. An International Commercial-Stage Biotechnology Company
Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. An International Commercial-Stage Biotechnology Company
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LucanthoneSpectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. An International Commercial-Stage Biotechnology Company

GBM/Brain metastasis

Target Indications

  • Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM)
  • Brain events from NSCLC

Mode of Action

  • Lucanthone inhibits Topoisomerase II and interferes with the repair of DNA damage, sensitizing tumor cells to radiation and chemotherapy
  • Specificity of lucanthone in brain tumors arises from its preferential action on cycling cells (most of the normal brain cells are non-cycling) and the fact that lucanthone crosses the blood brain barrier efficiently.

Drug Properties

  • Oral Administration
  • Crosses the blood-brain barrier
  • Good safety given alone or with radiation therapy

Status

  • Ongoing Open-Label Phase 2 trial
  • Second Phase 2 study designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of lucanthone administered in combination with temozolomide (TMZ) and radiation treatment.
    • ~ 140 patients
    • Primary endpoint is progression free survival (PFS) at 9 months
    • Secondary endpoints include PFS at 1 year and overall survival (OS) at 1 year.
    • Multiple sites in U.S. and in India through Spectrum’s subsidiary, OncoRx.

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Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. An International Commercial-Stage Biotechnology Company

Product HighlightsSpectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. An International Commercial-Stage Biotechnology Company

Lucanthone

It is difficult for drugs to cross the blood brain barrier. Lucanthone's ability to do this, and it's inhibitory mechanisms which interfere with DNA repair of cycling cells make it a potential candidate for treating GBMs.

According to the Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States, an estimated 66,290 new cases of primary non–malignant and malignant brain and central nervous system tumors are expected to be diagnosed in the United States in 2012.1 An estimated 13,700 deaths will be attributed to primary malignant brain and central nervous system tumors in the United States in 2012.2

1 http://www.cbtrus.org/factsheet/factsheet.html
2 Siegel R, Naishadham D, Jemal A. Cancer Statistics, 2012. CA Cancer J Clin 62:10-29, 2012