SPI-1620
An endothelin B receptor agonist
- Adjunct therapy in solid tumors
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- A highly selective endothelin B agonist
- In animal models SPI-1620 selectively and transiently increases tumor blood flow allowing increased delivery of anticancer agents to the tumor
- SPI-1620 is being developed as an adjunct to chemotherapy
SPI-1620 is a highly selective peptide agonist of endothelin-B receptors, which can stimulate receptors on endothelial cells, the innermost layer of cells lining the blood vessels.
This technology takes advantage of the fact that the blood supply to tumors is different than the blood supply to healthy organs. Blood vessels in the growing part of tumors are relatively devoid of smooth muscle covering and are rich in endothelial cells.
Therefore, by stimulating the endothelial-B receptors present on the endothelial cells, SPI-1620 should selectively increase tumor blood flow while sparing healthy tissue. |
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The current study is a Phase 1, open label, ascending dose study of the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the endothelin B agonist, SPI-1620, in patients with recurrent progressive carcinoma. |
Chemotherapy is one of the mainstays of therapy for solid carcinomas, including
breast, lung, and prostate. Chemotherapy uses drugs called cytotoxic agents
that are poisonous to cells and kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy often fails
because adequate and uniform distribution of the cytotoxic agents is not achieved
in the tumor, and serious side effects can result from toxicity to normal cells.
Consequently, any means to increase the delivery of a cytotoxic agent selectively
to tumors, while minimizing its concentration in normal tissues may be very
beneficial.
SPI-1620 is being developed as an adjunct to chemotherapy. In pre-clinical studies, when anti-cancer drugs, such as paclitaxel injection, are administered shortly after SPI-1620, the anti-cancer drug concentration in the tumor is increased several fold.
This results in increased antitumor efficacy at a given dose of a cytotoxic agent, and might allow physicians to maximize efficacy with reduced cytotoxic agent doses with resultant decreased toxicity to the normal organs.
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