| Preclinical | Phase I | Phase II | Phase III | Marketed | |
| Pixantrone |
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A Potential Treatment for non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
Pixantrone (pick-san-trone) dimaleate for injection (BBR 2778) is a novel aza-anthracenedione with unique structural and physio-chemical properties. It is under development for the treatment of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).
Pixantrone Clinical Research
The PIX-R TRIAL is a randomized multicenter study comparing pixantrone + rituximab with gemcitabine + rituximab in patients with Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) who have relapsed after therapy with CHOP-R or an equivalent regimen and are ineligible for stem cell transplant. Now enrolling.
The phase III EXTEND (PIX301) clinical trial explored the role of single-agent pixantrone treatment in patients with relapsed or refractory aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma who failed two or more prior therapies.
Pixantrone Proposed Target Profile
Anthracyclines are the cornerstone therapeutic for the treatment of lymphoma, leukemia, breast cancer, and other diseases. Although anthracyclines are effective for use as first-line (initial) treatment, they can cause cumulative heart damage that may result in congestive heart failure many years later. As a result, there is a lifetime limit of anthracycline doses and most patients who previously have been treated with an anthracycline are not able to receive further anthracycline treatment if their disease returns.
Unlike other drugs in this class that cause serious tissue necrosis if they pass through the walls of vessels into surrounding tissue, pixantrone can be given through a peripheral vein and does not require a central implanted catheter.
*Pixuvri has been granted conditional marketing authorization from the European Commission for PixuvriŽ (pixantrone) as monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with multiply relapsed or refractory aggressive non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphomas.
Resources Pixantrone Fact Sheet (447k PDF) Pixantrone References (31k PDF) Press Releases (searchable by key word) Recent Scientific Presentations
About NHL Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is the fifth most common cancer in the United States. It is caused by the abnormal growth of lymphocytes, cells key to the functioning of the immune system. It usually originates in lymph nodes and spreads through the lymphatic system.
NHL can be broadly classified into two main forms - aggressive NHL is a rapidly growing form of the disease that moves into advanced stages much faster than indolent NHL, which progresses more slowly.
There currently is no effective therapy for patients with aggressive NHL who relapse after or are refractory to second-line treatment.