BCRP Blood Cancer Consortium Expands Clinical Trial Base
By Cyndi Root
The Blood Cancer Research Partnership (BCRP) and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, the lead institute of the BCRP, have announced an expansion of the collaborative effort that includes Harvard University and members of industry. The announcement in a press release states that Saint Francis/Mount Sinai Regional Cancer Center in Hartford, CT has now joined the clinical trial effort.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is also involved in the effort to network oncology research sites and expand blood cancer patients’ access to clinical trials. The Biotechnology Accelerator Division at LLS includes industry members such as Celator, whose CPX-351 candidate is in Phase 3 trials.
BCRP Consortium
Saint Francis is the newest community partner to join BCRP, which began in 2013. Director Robert Soiffer, MD, chief of the Division of Hematologic Malignancies at Dana-Farber, said, “The BCRP consortium provides the opportunity for the Division of Hematologic Malignancies to extend clinical research trials to patients who are outside our regional area and do not have the capacity to come to Dana-Farber.” Currently, the consortium is running three clinical trials and developing others with the LLS and industry partners.
Biotechnology Accelerator Division at LLS
The LLS runs the Therapy Acceleration Program (TAP), a strategic initiative to develop blood cancer treatments. TAP includes three divisions: Academic Concierge, Biotechnology Accelerator, and Clinical Trials. The Biotechnology Accelerator Division funds companies to test, register, and market new therapies for blood cancer indications. TAP publishes its company pipeline, including the drug’s name, indication, and stage in the development process.
Celator’s CPX-351 is leading the field in Phase 3 trials for older patients with high risk (secondary) acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In September 2014, the company from preclinical studies of CPX-351 in pediatric patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL).
CPX-351 (Cytarabine:Daunorubicin) Liposome Injection, granted Orphan Drug status by the Food & Drug Administration for the treatment of AML, is a synergistic 5:1 molar ratio of cytarabine and daunorubicin, two agents commonly used to treat hematologic malignancies.
Stemline’s SL-401 is in Phase 2 development for patients with blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) and advanced acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In development are SL-401 trials for other hematologic cancers, including stem cell-derived myeloproliferative disorders.