Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic Cancer is a cancer that arise in the pancreas and that, unless controlled at its earliest stages, tends to spread to local tissues and to distant organs. Among the complications of cancer is a muscle wasting syndrome called “cancer cachexia” in which loss of muscle results in severe weakness as well as difficulty breathing due to weakness of the muscles of the chest wall and diaphragm. The current treatment for cancer cachexia is of only minimal benefit. Although surgery can be curative if pancreatic cancer is diagnosed at its very earliest stages, once the cancer has spread locally or to distant organs, the current treatment has some, although limited, efficacy. New treatments are clearly needed.
Breast cancer associated bone pain
Breast cancer, when metastatic, commonly has spread to bones, and when it does, causes very significant pain. The current treatment of the bone pain commonly involves the use of opiates, which can have significant side effects. New non-narcotic treatment of bone pain associated with metastatic breast cancer are needed.
Recurrent/refractory multiple myeloma
Multiple myeloma is a cancer of plasma cells. In multiple myeloma, the overgrowth of plasma cells in the bone marrow can crowd out normal blood-forming cells, leading to failure to produce white and red blood cells and platelets. In addition, myeloma cells produce substances that can cause bone destruction and kidney damage. Although great strides have been made in the treatment of myeloma, relapse is common and the disease tends to become more refractory with each successive line of treatment. New treatments, especially those with lesser side effects, are greatly needed.
Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS)
MDS is a group of blood disorders which affect bone marrow function. It represents a spectrum of hematopoietic stem cell disorders characterized by progressive bone marrow failure and which carry an increased risk of developing into AML.
Hypomethylating agents are considered standard first line therapy for MDS patients requiring drug treatment. Unfortunately, these agents are not curative and relapse or failure to respond adequately is common. Treatments after hypomethylating agents fail to control the disease have very limited efficacy, and there remains an unmet need for better patient treatment.
Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a blood disorder characterized by uncontrolled proliferation of a type of immature white blood cells called “myeloid cells”, which causes failure of the bone marrow to function properly. AML is the most common type of leukemia in adults.
