Boehringer Ingelheim commences new leukaemia drug trial

Boehringer Ingelheim is beginning a new phase III clinical trial of volasertib, a new therapy for acute myeloid leukaemia ineligible for intensive therapy.

The Polo-AML-2 study will assess the selective and potent polo-like kinase inhibitor in combination with chemotherapy and is being launched following positive results from a previous phase II study.

It has previously been shown that the compound delivered higher rates of objective response and an improvement in event-free survival in patients receiving volasertib in combination with chemotherapy, compared to chemotherapy alone.

This is indicative of the company's commitment to combatting rare diseases affecting fewer than five in every 10,000 people in Europe.

Professor Klaus Dugi, corporate senior vice-president medicine at Boehringer Ingelheim, said: "The initiation of the Polo-AML-2 trial is a significant milestone as therapeutic options are limited in AML patients ineligible for intensive therapy."

Last week, the company announced positive trial data from a phase III trial of the innovative inhaler-based asthma therapy tiotropium.