NEW YORK (GenomeWeb) – Mirna Therapeutics this week announced that it has begun enrolling patients with hematological malignancies in an ongoing Phase I trial of its microRNA-based cancer treatment MRX34.
The drug is a synthetic version of miR-34a, a miRNA known to play a role in the p53 tumor-suppressor pathway, that is formulated with Marina Biotech's Smarticle liposomal delivery technology.
In mid-2013, the drug entered clinical testing in patients with primary liver cancer or advanced metastatic cancer, including lymphoma, with liver involvement. As patients were enrolled in the study, Mirna was also evaluating other cancer indications that it might include in the trial, eventually settling on hematological malignancies.
In April, Mirna unveiled interim data of 26 solid tumor patients from the study, showing that the drug had a "manageable safety profile."
With the maximum tolerated dose of MRX34 yet to be identified, the trial will enroll up to 48 liver cancer patients and 15 hematological cancer patients who will receive escalating doses of the drug until disease progression or intolerance.