Lorus Therapeutics' results from its phase III clinical trial of Virulizin for the treatment of pancreatic cancer showed significant survival benefit for a subgroup of patients who continued to receive Virulizin after entering optional Stage 3(x) second-line therapy.

The randomised, double-blind, multi-centre phase III clinical trial compared Virulizin plus gemcitabine to placebo plus gemcitabine for the treatment of chemonaive patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer as first-line therapy. Optional Stage 3 second-line therapy included continuation of Virulizin or placebo alone or in combination with 5-flurouracil, informs the company release.

"Virulizin significantly improved survival in pancreatic cancer patients who remained on the treatment arm even when treatment with the standard-of-care chemotherapy gemcitabine was no longer effective," said Dr. Jim Wright, CEO of Lorus.

"Lorus is committed to developing innovative, well-tolerated therapies for the management of cancer and we are encouraged by this new data. Although this finding is from exploratory analysis and in our view, will not be sufficient for regulatory approval without additional clinical investigation, it provides important new information for further clinical development strategies," added Wright.

Pancreatic cancer is a leading cause of cancer death in North America. It is usually diagnosed at a late stage and the survival rate is very poor. Approximately 35,000 North Americans are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer annually.

Lorus is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialisation of cancer therapies.