ARIAD: Ponatinib Continues To Maintain Anti-leukemic Responses In Follow-up Data

(RTTNews) - ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ARIA) reported long-term follow-up data from the Phase 1 trial of Iclusig (ponatinib), its approved BCR-ABL inhibitor, in heavily pretreated patients with resistant or intolerant chronic myeloid leukemia or Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The company said the long-term safety data on ponatinib indicate that benefit-risk evaluations should guide decisions to initiate and maintain therapy, particularly in patients who may be at increased risk for arterial occlusive events.

Iclusig continued to demonstrate anti-leukemic activity in chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia patients with limited treatment options. Overall, 72 percent of chronic-phase-chronic myeloid leukemia patients achieved a major cytogenetic response on trial, 65 percent a complete cytogenetic response and 56 percent a major molecular response.