Progen Industries to Conduct Phase I Trial of PI-88 and Docetaxel

BRISBANE, Australia—Progen Industries is conducting a phase I trial combining its cancer drug PI-88 with docetaxel (Taxotere) in patients with advanced malignancies. The trial is taking place at the University of Colorado Cancer Center, Denver, with Scott Holden, MD, as principal investigator, Progen said in a news release.

PI-88 is a semisynthetic sulfated oligosaccharide that has several modes of action. In animal models it has been shown to prevent angiogenesis by inhibiting fibroblast growth factor, and to block metastasis by inhibiting the enzyme heparinase, which allows cancer cells to escape blood vessels. It also stimulates sustained release of TFPI (tissue factor pathway inhibitor), a natural inhibitor of angiogenesis, from cells lining the blood vessel wall.