Pharmacyclics, Inc. Announces Presentation Of Pooled Analysis Of Xcytrin(R) For Lung Cancer Brain Metastases

SUNNYVALE, Calif.-- Pharmacyclics, Inc. announced the presentation of pooled results from two randomized Phase 3 clinical trials, which indicate that Xcytrin(R) (motexafin gadolinium) Injection combined with whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) significantly prolonged time to neurologic progression in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with brain metastases. The presentation took place at the Society for Neuro-Oncology's 11th Annual Meeting being held this week in Orlando, FL.

"These data demonstrate that Xcytrin, used in combination with whole brain radiation therapy, may significantly improve neurologic outcomes in patients with brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer," said William R. Shapiro, M.D., chief of the Neuro-Oncology Division of Neurology at the Barrow Neurological Institute, and presenter of the pooled Phase 3 results. "These two large studies both used an innovative and clinically meaningful endpoint and reveal consistent benefit in this patient population."

Brain metastases occur when cancer cells spread to the brain and grow, causing major neurologic complications. Patients with brain metastases usually suffer serious deterioration of neurologic and neurocognitive function such as loss of short-term memory, compromised verbal skills and fine motor coordination, and reduction in cognitive performance. Most patients with brain metastases are treated with WBRT.

Pharmacyclics is developing Xcytrin as an anti-cancer agent with a novel mechanism of action that is designed to selectively concentrate in tumors and induce apoptosis (programmed cell death). Xcytrin is a redox-active drug that has been shown to disrupt redox-dependent pathways [how cells control reactive radicals inside the cell such as O 2]in cells and inhibit oxidative stress related proteins. Its multifunctional mode of action provides the opportunity to be used in a broad range of cancers.

PCYC pharmaceuticals closed trading today on the NASDAQ exchange up 5.2% (31 cents) to $6.21.