• EUSAPharma (formerly Cytogen), of Los Angeles, said positive results from its Phase I trial of Quadramet in combination with Velcade for the treatment of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma has been reported in the journal Clinical Cancer Research. The study evaluated the combination of Quadramet radiotherapy, a drug that targets bone and bone marrow, with Velcade to determine efficacy and safety among patients who had been treated previously. Responses were observed even among patients who were failing Velcade-based therapy, and some patients achieved complete responses. Patients were given four doses of Velcade every eight weeks instead of the standard four doses every three weeks, and researchers observed much less peripheral neuropathy with the less intensive schedule.

• TorreyPines Therapeutics Inc., of La Jolla, Calif., said oral administration of NGX426, an AMPA/kainate-type glutamate receptor antagonist, was safe and well tolerated in a Phase I trial of healthy male and female subjects when dosed once daily for five consecutive days. The double-blind, placebo-controlled trial enrolled 20 subjects in sequential, dose-escalating cohorts. Subjects received once-daily oral doses of either 90 mg or 150 mg of NGX426 or placebo for five consecutive days, approximating exposure under steady-state pharmacokinetic conditions. Overall, NGX426 was well tolerated. There were no dose-limiting adverse events or discontinuations from the study, and reported adverse events were generally mild and transient.