KRX-0402

Description

KRX-0402 (O6-benzyl guanine or O6-BG) is a small molecule that was specifically designed to block the DNA repair protein, MGMT. MGMT confers resistance to certain alkylating agents, such as temozolomide and BCNU, that are commonly used to treat brain cancer, melanoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Recent research has shown that KRX-0402 can also potentiate the activity of other alkylating agents, such as cyclophosphamide, ifosphamide, cisplatinum and carboplatinum. These drugs are some of the most widely used chemotherapy drugs and are commonly used to treat breast cancer, non-small cell lung cancer and ovarian cancer. Accordingly, It is believed that KRX-0402 may have an important role in making cells more susceptible to the damaging effects of alkylating agents, and that KRX-0402 may have utility in the treatment of multiple forms of cancer. KRX-0402 is administered intravenously. To date, approximately 400 patients have received KRX-0402 in multiple clinical studies. Dose limiting toxicity for KRX-0402 in combination with chemotherapy was bone marrow suppression. KRX-0402 alone has no identified dose limiting toxicity. Two company-sponsored, Phase II clinical trials for KRX-0402 are ongoing.