PIXANTRONE Press Kit

A Potential Treatment for non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Pixantrone (pick-san-trone) dimaleate for injection (BBR 2778) is a next generation antitumor aza-anthracenedione with a molecular structure similar to other topoisomerase II inhibitors, such as anthracyclines like doxorubicin. It is under development for the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL).

Pixantrone Clinical Research

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.