Matrix Pharmaceutical Inc. on Monday said the Food and DrugAdministration has approved investigational new drugapplications for two site-specific, sustained-release, injectableanti-cancer therapeutics that contain protein carriers andvasoconstrictors.

The products are based on Matrix's MPI 5011 5-fluorouracilcompound, which will be used in treatments for cancers such asprostate and liver cancers, and its MPI 5004 methotrexatecompound, which will be used to treat cancers such as headand neck and prostate cancer. Matrix's technology concentratesdrug activity at a site and reduces side effects by deliveringthe compound directly to diseased tissues and holding them inplace with protein carriers.

The privately held Menlo Park, Calif., company immediatelywill begin nine Phase I/II trials, said program manager BeverlyHolly. Matrix already has two fluorouracil-based dermatologyproducts in clinical trials that contain the MPI 5002 and 5003.-- Kris Herbst

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