The NeoRx Corporation has announced that it has treated the first patient with its frontline cancer treatment drug picoplatin.

The new generation platinum therapy could be used in the treatment of a number of cancers if it proves successful. The phase 1/2 trial currently taking place in a number of clinics is designed to discover its safety and efficacy for prostate cancer patients when used with docetaxel.

It is hoped that using picoplatin could reduce the likelihood of patients developing chemoresistance, which has been associated with other platinum treatments.

"Picoplatin in combination with docetaxel may provide an effective treatment for patients with hormone-refractory metastatic prostate cancer, for whom docetaxel is the current standard of care," said Jerry McMahon, chairman and chief executive of the company.

He added: "Clinical trials have shown evidence of activity of picoplatin, including measurable responses, when administered as a single agent in the front-line treatment of hormone-refractory metastatic prostate cancer."

Ÿ Adfero Ltd