Positive data from PIX301 trial of Pixuvri (Cell Therapeutics) for Non Hodgkin Lymphoma

New results have been released from the Phase III trial of Pixuvri (pixantrone dimaleate), from Cell Therapeutics, for patients with relapsed or refractory, aggressive Non Hodgkin Lymphoma who received two or more prior therapies and who were sensitive to treatment with anthracyclines. The PIX301 trial enrolled 140 patients who were randomized to receive either Pixuvri or another single-agent drug. Pixuvri patients experienced a 40% reduction in the risk of death or progression, progression free survival, over the two year study observation and follow up period compared to standard chemotherapy (5.3 months for Pixuvri vs. 2.6 months for comparator) and a trend for reduction in the risk of death: median overall survival (10.2 months for Pixuvri vs. 7.6 months for comparator). The most common adverse events with Pixuvri were uncomplicated, noncumulative neutropenia (41.2%), leukopenia (23.5%), and thrombocytopenia (11.8%). The results were published in The Lancet Oncology: >"Pixantrone dimaleate versus other chemotherapeutic agents as a single-agent salvage treatment in patients with relapsed or refractory aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma: a Phase III, multicentre, open-label, randomised trial." by Ruth Pettengell et al. Early Online Publication, 30 May 2012 DOI: 10.1016/S1470-2045(12)70212-7