Last month, we saw the FDA grant orphan drug status to Onconase (ranpirnase) for the treatment of malignant mesothelioma. The clinical trial is underway now, and they are accepting participants from all around the world.
Onconase is promising because it can target and attack cancer cells only. It has also displayed an ability to increase drug uptake by the tumor by reducing tumor interstitial fluid pressure, which is known to significantly reduce drug delivery into solid tumors.
The trial seeks to determine if the combination of Onconase and doxorubicin is more effective at stopping cancer growth and treating patients with mesothelioma than doxorubicin alone.
The manufacturer of Onconase claims that the drug has demonstrated that it can target tumor cells while ignoring normal cells. The drug attacks cytosol transfer RNA (tRNA), preventing tumor cell growth and proliferation, while promoting cancer cell death, the manufacturer claims.
Many facilities in the United States and several others in Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Europe are participating in the trial.The drug is also being evaluated for its ability to treat non-small cell lung cancer and other solid tumors.
Are you eligible?
The trial’s eligibility requirements are as follows:
- You are at least 21 years old
- You have measurable or evaluable levels of mesothelioma
- Your cancer has not spread to other parts of your body
- You’ve never before taken doxorubicin
- You haven’t had chemotherapy in at least 6 weeks
More information
For more information, or to sign up for this or other mesothelioma clinical trials, visit the national institute of Health’s clinical trial website here.
or
Visit the National Cancer Institute’s page on the trial here.
