Pharmion's Oral Azacitidine Granted Fast Track Status for Myelodysplastic...(tomonitor response and toxicity but at a...)

Date:8/29/2007

to monitor response and toxicity, but at a minimum, prior to each dosing cycle. Because azacitidine is potentially hepatotoxic in patients with severe pre-existing hepatic impairment, caution is needed in patients with liver disease. In addition, azacitidine and its metabolites are substantially excreted by the kidneys and the risk of toxic reactions to this drug may be greater in patients with impaired renal function. Because elderly patients are more likely to have decreased renal function, it may be useful to monitor renal function. Vidaza may cause fetal harm. While receiving treatment with Vidaza, women of childbearing potential should avoid becoming pregnant, and men should avoid fathering a child. In addition, women treated with Vidaza should not nurse.

About MDS

The highest prevalence of MDS is in patients over 60 years of age. According to the American Cancer Society and the Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation, there are approximately 10,000 - 30,000 new cases of MDS in the United States each year. Survival ranges from six months to many years for the different subtypes of MDS.

About Epigenetics

DNA methylation and histone deacetylation are two of the more studied epigenetic regulators of gene expression. Epigenetics refers to changes in the regulation of gene expression. Epigenetic changes can silence gene expression and, unlike DNA mutations, may be reversed by targeting the enzymes involved. The silencing of key cell cycle control genes and tumor suppressor genes through these two mechanisms of epigenetic regulation have been demonstrated in vitro and in vivo in hematological malignancies and in solid tumors. Vidaza has been shown to reverse the effects of DNA hypermethylation with subsequent gene re-expression and likewise MGCD0103 has been shown, in vivo, to reverse the effects of inappropriate deacetylation resulting in gene expression reactivation. The epigenetic approach to cancer therapy is that rather than usin
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SOURCE Pharmion Corporation Copyright©2007 PR Newswire. All rights reserved

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