Clinical Results Will Be Presented Today at 1998 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Conference
San Diego, CA, December 7, 1998 - Maxim Pharmaceuticals (AMEX: MMP, SSE: MAXM) announced updated results from an ongoing Phase II clinical trial of its lead drug Maxamine® in patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). The results from the trial suggest encouraging increases in leukemia-free survival in AML patients treated in remission with Maxamine Therapy.
The updated results will be presented today by Mats Brune, M.D., and Elisabeth Wallhult, R.N., Department of Hematology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden, at the American Society of Hematology Conference in Miami, Florida. "We are very pleased with the number of patients that remain in leukemia-free remission," said Dr. Brune.
The strength of the Phase II data led Maxim to commence a Phase III clinical trial of Maxamine as a remission therapy for AML patients. The Phase III trial, which began earlier this year, is underway in 11 countries and more than 100 clinical sites around the world. "The number of clinical sites that have approached Maxim and agreed to participate in this trial has greatly exceeded our expectations," said Dr. Kurt Gehlsen, chief technical officer of Maxim. "We believe that this interest results from the promising data we have seen in the Phase II trial for this population of patients who have limited options for therapy today."
Background on AML
AML is the most common form of acute leukemia in adults, and prospects for long-term survival are poor for the majority of patients. There are approximately 20,000 new cases and 15,000 deaths caused by AML each year in the United States, Europe and Australia.
Once diagnosed with AML, patients are typically treated with chemotherapy, and
the majority achieve complete remission ("CR"). Unfortunately 75-80% of
patients who achieve their first CR ("CR1") will relapse, and the medi
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Contact: Amy Flood
a.flood@noonanrusso.com
415-677-4455 x211
Noonan/Russo Communications
7-Dec-1998