Poniard Pharmaceuticals Announces Progression-Free Survival Data From Phase 2 Clinical Trial of Picoplatin in Metastatic Colorec...( - New Progression-Free Survival Disea...),Health

- New Progression-Free Survival, Disease Control and Neurotoxicity Data To Be Presented at 2009 ASCO Annual Meeting Continue to Support Picoplatin as a Neuropathy-Sparing Alternative to Oxaliplatin for First-Line Treatment of Colorectal Cancer -

- Poniard Management Team to Host Analyst and Investor Briefing to Discuss Data on Sunday, May 31st -

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., May 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Poniard Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: PARD), a biopharmaceutical company focused on innovative oncology therapies, today announced updated clinical data from its randomized, controlled Phase 2 trial of picoplatin in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). The new data demonstrated that picoplatin, given once every four weeks in combination with 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin in the FOLPI regimen, and oxaliplatin, given in combination with 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin in the modified FOLFOX-6 regimen, have similar anti-tumor activity in the treatment of first-line metastatic CRC, as assessed by progression-free survival (PFS) and disease control measured by tumor response rate. New data derived by three independent assessments of neurotoxicity indicated a statistically significant reduction in neurotoxicities with the use of picoplatin in FOLPI compared with oxaliplatin in FOLFOX (p<0.0019).

"Oxaliplatin given as part of the FOLFOX-based regimen is the current standard of care for metastatic colorectal cancer, but is associated with severe neuropathy at increasing cumulative doses approaching 800 mg/meter squared. This significant side effect may cause patients extreme pain, numbness and weakness, which is often long-lasting and, in many cases, requires patients to discontinue treatment," said Richard Goldberg, M.D., associate director of clinical research for the University of North Car
'/>"/>