Poniard Pharmaceuticals Announces Results of Phase 3 SPEAR Trial of Picoplatin in Small Cell Lung Cancer to Be Presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology 2010 Annual Meeting

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., May 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Poniard Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: PARD), a biopharmaceutical company focused on innovative oncology therapies, today announced that data from the Phase 3 SPEAR (Study of Picoplatin Efficacy After Relapse) trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of picoplatin as a second-line treatment in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) has been accepted for an oral presentation during the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2010 Annual Meeting.

"We believe the SPEAR trial, one of the largest second-line SCLC trials conducted in the world, provides valuable clinical insights that can be used to further the study of treatments for small cell lung cancer," said Ronald A. Martell, chief executive officer of Poniard Pharmaceuticals.  "The SPEAR data adds to the growing body of clinical evidence that we believe supports the value proposition of picoplatin as an attractive, late-stage, highly versatile anticancer compound that has demonstrated efficacy and safety in a variety of solid tumor types."

In addition to the oral presentation, the SPEAR abstract was designated as one of the "Best of ASCO 2010" and will be featured in San Francisco and Boston in July, and other local settings around the world following the ASCO Annual Meeting.  This is an ASCO-sponsored program that features abstracts from the 2010 ASCO Annual Meeting and provides greater accessibility to important scientific research presented by respected members of the oncology community.  

About Picoplatin

Picoplatin is a new and differentiated platinum-based chemotherapeutic agent that is in clinical development for multiple cancer indications, treatment combinations and by two routes of administration. It is designed to overcome platinum resistance associated with chemotherapy in solid tumors. Study data to date suggest that picoplatin has an improved safety profile relative to existing platinum-based cancer therapies and can be safely administered in combination with multiple approved oncology products. Approximately 1,100 patients have received picoplatin. Results obtained to date suggest that hematologic events are common but manageable. Kidney toxicity (nephrotoxicity) and nerve toxicity (neurotoxicity) are less frequent and less severe than is commonly observed with other platinum chemotherapy drugs. Picoplatin has demonstrated anti-tumor activity in a variety of solid tumors.

About Poniard Pharmaceuticals

Poniard Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative oncology products. For additional information please visit http://www.poniard.com.

SOURCE Poniard Pharmaceuticals, Inc.