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Dicerna Begins Phase I Testing of Cancer Drug

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Dicerna Pharmaceuticals this week announced that it has begun dosing patients in a Phase I trial of its RNAi cancer treatment DCR-MYC, formerly known as DCR-M1711.

In the dose-escalating trial, once-weekly infusions of the drug will be administered to up to 66 patients with solid tumors, multiple myeloma, or lymphoma who are refractory or unresponsive to other treatments for three weeks.

Endpoints of the trial include determination of the drug's maximum tolerated dose, as well as its pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and potential antitumor activity. Data is expected to be available next year.

Dicerna's CSO Bob Brown recently stated that this study will be followed by another Phase I trial in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma patients.

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