A new platinum-based drug that is used to treat lung cancer has been expanded.

The phase II clinical trial of picoplatin will be extended into selected eastern European countries in order to treat patients in the region.

Its developer NeoRx said that during the first two phases of the trial involving more than 500 patients, safety and efficacy study results suggested the drug had a more manageable safety profile with fewer side effects than other platinum-based therapies currently on the market.

Picoplatin is a new generation platinum therapy designed to tackle platinum resistance, which is associated with the treatment of solid tumours.

"New drugs are urgently needed that are active in small cell lung cancer and that can overcome the drug resistance that occurs with currently available platinum compounds. We believe that picoplatin is a promising agent for the treatment of this aggressive and deadly form of lung cancer," said Jerry McMahon, chairman and chief executive of NeoRx.

"The expansion of our Phase II trial into eastern Europe is important because small cell lung cancer is a serious disease in both North America and Europe, allowing us to maximize access to patients on both continents for our clinical study."

The trial is currently being conducted at approximately 30 clinical sites in eastern Europe and around 30 sites in north America.

Ÿ Adfero Ltd