The drug significantly raised levels of stem cells and white blood cell counts.
Clal Biotechnology Industries Ltd. (TASE: CBI) portfolio company BioKine Therapeutics Ltd. has completed a Phase I/II clinical trial of its leading product, BKT-140, for the treatment of cancer and movement of stem cells and mature white blood cells from bone marrow to the bloodstream.
The safety and effectiveness trial was conducted at Rambam Medical Center in Haifa and Sheba Medical Center Tel Hashomer. It included 16 patients with a multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer. Preliminary results of the trial found that the drug was safe at various dosages, and that it succeeded in raising the level of mature white blood cells in the blood. A preliminary summary found no significant side effects. Depending on the dosage, the drug also significantly raised levels of mature cells and white blood cell counts.
Biokine VP R&D Dr. Orly Eizenberg and CSO Dr. Amnon Peled of the Weizmann Institute founded the company in 2000. Clal Biotech owns 33% of the company, and private investors own the rest. The company has obtained grants from the Office of the Chief Scientist and the EU Sixth Framework Programme for R&D.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on May 4, 2010
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