Singapore: Taiwan's TaiGen Biotechnology has initiated first burixafor trial for relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia in China.

Burixafor is being studied in combination with two chemotherapeutic agents, fludarabine and cytaribine. The study is led by Prof Wang JianXiang, a hematologist/oncologist at Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital in Tianjin under a clinical trial authorization for Class 1.

Dr Ming-Chu Hsu, chairman and CEO, TaiGen said, "Chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation are the mainstay of leukemia treatment. We know from our clinical study to date, burixafor can mobilized sufficient stem cells necessary for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. This study will give us the additional information on the utility of burixafor as a chemosensitizer in combination with chemotherapy and could greatly expand the indications and increase the market potential in hematology/oncology."