Xechem International Inc. (fka XKEM)

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HemaQuest Initiates Clinical Trials in Sickle Cell Disease and Beta Thalassemia

Venture-backed Firm Seeks Safe and Effective Therapy for Common Life-threatening Genetic Disorders of Hemoglobin05.27.2009 – SEATTLE - HemaQuest Pharmaceuticals announced today that it has initiated clinical trials of HQK-1001 in the treatment of patients with sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia. These two clinical trials are intended to evaluate safety and provide proof of concept clinical data in patients with these serious and life-threatening chronic illnesses.

"Our team is excited to have the opportunity to work with some of the leading clinical investigators to test HQK-1001 in sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia,” said Ron Berenson, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of HemaQuest. “There is a pressing need for new drugs to treat these disorders, which cause significant morbidity and early mortality. The goal of our clinical trials is to have sufficient data to move HQK-1001 into advanced clinical studies.”

Each of these blinded, placebo-controlled studies will assess the safety of HQK-1001 and evaluate indicators of therapeutic activity, including several measures of fetal globin, one of the drug’s primary targets. Increases in fetal globin correlate with improved clinical outcomes in patients with these hemoglobin disorders. The trial in sickle cell disease is being conducted at approximately 10 centers in the U.S. The trial in beta thalassemia is being conducted in Thailand, where there is a high incidence of this disease.

more...
http://www.pitchengine.com/hemaquest/hemaquest-initiates-clinical-trials-in-sickle-cell-disease-and-beta-thalassemia/12953/