Apeiron Initiates Clinical Study to Investigate Prevention of Radiation-Induced Skin Damage in Breast Cancer Patients

Vienna, 27th February 2012: APEIRON Biologics AG (Apeiron) today announced that a clinical trial has started with the agent superoxide dismutase (project APN201) to investigate its potential for prevention of radiation dermatitis in breast cancer patients.

Today, Apeiron announced that a clinical trial has started with a liposomal topical formulation of the enzyme human recombinant superoxide dismutase (project APN201) at the University Hospital for Radiation Therapy / Radio-oncology of the Medical University Graz. APN201 is being developed clinically in collaboration with the Austrian contract manufacturer Polymun Scientific. The double blind, placebo-controlled study is conducted at a single center and shall enroll 20 breast cancer patients that receive radiation therapy after breast-preserving surgery.

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is an enzyme that degrades and renders harmless highly reactive oxygen radicals that occur, amongst other situations, during radiotherapy of cancer. This pilot study aims at investigation of safety and tolerability of topical APN201 as well as hints for efficacy to prevent radiation dermatitis in breast cancer patients that undergo radiotherapy after surgery. In general, about fifty percent of cancer patients receive radiotherapy (in addition to chemotherapy, surgery and other therapies). Often, concomitant skin damage occurs which is comparable to burns. This radiation dermatitis can be severe and even lead to discontinuation of radiotherapy. Today, radiation dermatitis is mainly treated symptomatically with skin creams.

source: PharmaLive