A new drug for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) is under development by researchers at Oregon health sciences university in collaboration with scientists at Novartis Pharmaceuticals. The oral compound, known as STI-571, targets an enzyme found only in the leukaemia cells.
Details of a Phase I trial with the drug were reported on December 5 at an American Society of Hematology conference. In the trial, 31 CML patients who had failed to respond to standard treatment for their leukaemia were given STI-571 at a dosage of 300mg or greater. Complete normalisation of blood counts was seen in all 31 patients. Commenting on the new drug, Dr Richard Klausner (director of the National Cancer Institute, US) said that the "early data are very encouraging". A Phase II trial is scheduled to begin in early 2000.