SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Dec. 1, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hana Biosciences (OTCBB:HNAB), a biopharmaceutical company focused on strengthening the foundation of cancer care, today announced that top-line data from its pivotal Phase 2 rALLy clinical trial for Marqibo(R) (vincristine sulfate liposomes injection) for the treatment of adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in second relapse will be presented at the at the 51st American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition being held in New Orleans, LA, December 5-8, 2009.
Presentation details are as follows:
Abstract: 3088
Title: Pivotal Phase 2 Study of Weekly Vincristine
Sulfate Liposomes Injection (VSLI, Marqibo(R)) in
Adults with Philadelphia Chromosome-Negative Acute
Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) in Second Relapse or
Progressing Following Two Anti-leukemia Treatment
Lines
Date/Time: Monday, December 7, 2009, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Central Time
Session: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia - Therapy, excluding
Transplantation Poster II
Location: Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Hall E
Poster board: III-25
The abstract is available online at http://ash.confex.com/ash/2009/webprogram/start.html.
About Marqibo(R) (vincristine sulfate liposomes injection)
Marqibo is a novel, targeted, Optisome(TM) encapsulated formulation of vincristine sulfate, a widely-used chemotherapy, which has shown promising anti-cancer activity in patients with ALL, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, and melanoma in several clinical trials. Marqibo is designed to enhance the penetration and concentration of vincristine sulfate at sites of active cancer and facilitate dose-intensification compared to standard vincristine formulations. Unlike standard vincristine sulfate, Marqibo has no dose cap. As a result, patients are dosed based on actual patient body surface area thereby allowing them to receive higher doses of Marqibo than they would otherwise receive with standard vincristine sulfate.
Hana Biosciences has received orphan drug and fast track designations for Marqibo for the treatment of adult ALL from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Marqibo has also received orphan drug designation for treatment of ALL from the European Medicines Evaluation Agency.
About Hana Biosciences, Inc.
Hana Biosciences, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing and commercializing new, differentiated cancer therapies designed to improve and enable current standards of care. The Company's lead product candidate, Marqibo(R), potentially treats acute lymphoblastic leukemia and lymphomas. The Company has additional pipeline opportunities some of which, like Marqibo, improve delivery and enhance the therapeutic benefits of well characterized, proven chemotherapies and enable high potency dosing without increased toxicity. Additional information on Hana Biosciences can be found at www.hanabiosciences.com.
The Hana Biosciences, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=3290