MDS Patients on Five-Day Vidaza(R) Dosing Schedules Achieve Transfusion Independence Consistent with Seven-da...( Three Alternative Five-day Dosing Sc...),Health

Three Alternative Five-day Dosing Schedules Appear Similar to Seven-Day in Achieving Red Blood Cell Transfusion Independence, Hematologic Improvement

in All MDS Patients Tested Data Presented at the 49th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Meeting

ATLANTA, Dec. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Pharmion Corporation (Nasdaq: PHRM) today announced interim data from a Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating three alternative five-day dosing schedules for Vidaza(R) (azacitidine for injection) that demonstrated safety and response profiles which are consistent with those achieved with the FDA-approved seven-day regimen, as reflected in rates of hematologic improvement (HI) and red blood cell (RBC) transfusion independence. These responses were observed in a broad range of MDS patients, including FAB low-risk patients. These data were presented at the 49th Annual Meeting and Exposition of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) in Atlanta.

"The data from this study suggest that a five-day schedule is as effective as the currently approved seven-day schedule at achieving RBC transfusion independence and hematologic improvement in MDS patients," said Dr. Andrew R. Allen, executive vice president and chief medical officer of Pharmion. "A dosing schedule that circumvents the need for weekend dosing would provide a meaningful benefit in terms of convenience to these patients and clinicians."

Roger M. Lyons, MD, FACP, principal investigator of the study at Cancer Care Centers of South Texas and U.S. Oncology Research San Antonio delivered an oral presentation titled "Results of the Initial Treatment Phase of a Study of Three Alternative Dosing Schedules of Azacitidine (Vidaza) in Patients with Myelodysplastic Sy
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