The MDS Beacon™

Tamibarotene Clinical Trial Progress Update – The biopharmaceutical company CytRx announced Monday that their ongoing Phase 2 clinical trial of tamibarotene as a third-line treatment for acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) progresses with favorable patient responses. In the study, 45 percent of APL patients achieved a leukemia-free state in which no leukemia cells were found in the bone marrow. Since APL is a form of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), a condition which high-risk MDS patients can develop, the company may look into examining tamibarotene for treatment of MDS patients. For more information, see the CytRx press release.

Leukemia Cup Regatta – The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) will hold its 11th Annual Southern Chesapeake Leukemia Cup Regatta at the Fishing Bay Yacht Club & Stingray Harbour Yacht Club in Deltaville, VA on July 10 through 12. The Leukemia Cup Regatta is an annual series of sailing races across the United States to raise money to fight leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. The weekend will include auctions and chances to win prizes while the participating sailors race in honor of a community member who has blood cancer. For details, please visit the LLS Web site.

19th Annual Bobby Mitchell Toyota Hall of Fame Golf Classic – On July 12, more than 45 NFL and NBA Hall of Famers will play in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) annual golf tournament weekend at the Lansdowne Resort in Lansdowne, VA. Bobby Mitchell, who was diagnosed with leukemia shortly before beginning his professional football career, founded the tournament to raise money for leukemia research. The tournament begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 2:00 p.m. Through $5 donations to the cause, the public can watch the tournament and participate in a putting contest to win a trip to the Hall of Fame. Children under 12 are admitted free. For further details, please visit the LLS Web site.

Funding Gives Go-Ahead To Phase 3 Tosedostat Trial – UK-based Chroma Therapeutics received £15 million through private funding, which will allow a Phase 3 registration trial of tosedostat (CHR-2797) to proceed. Tosedostat treats myelodysplastic syndromes by inhibiting proteins that promote cellular growth. For more information, please see the related Chroma Therapeutics press release (pdf).