ChemGenex Launches Trial of Ceflatonin in TKI-Resistant CML

MENLO PARK, Calif—Chem-Genex Pharmaceuticals has launched a multinational phase II/III trial of Ceflatonin (homoharringtonine, HHT) in chronic myeloid leukemia patients who have the T315I bcr-abl point mutation, which makes them resistant to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) such as imatinib (Gleevec). In April, FDA granted Ceflatonin orphan drug status for the treatment of CML.