Good news for colon cancer sufferers

A new drug is making significant strides in clinical testing on colon cancer patients.

Keryx Biopharmaceuticals Inc said that a mid-stage drug that they are testing on colan cancer patients has improved the overall survival rate of patients.

The drug is called KRX-0401, or perifosine, and works in unison with the chemotherapy drug capecitabine.

The study was conducted with 38 patients, all of which suffer from mid-stage colon cancer.  Half of the participants were given perifosine with capecitibine and the other half given a dummy drug with capecitabine.  The result was an increased overall survival rate of 60 percent by those that used perifosine.

The drug is not without side effects, though.  Patients that used perifosine showed higher incidences of anemia and hand-foot syndrome as compared with the test group.

“We are eager to finalize the design of a Phase 3 protocol in metastatic colorectal cancer within the next 3 months, in consultation with the FDA, and to commence the Phase 3 study as soon as practicable thereafter,” Chief Executive Ron Bentsur said in a statement released today.

Shares in Keryx Biopharmaceuticals Inc rose 13 percent following the company’s announcement.