Site management organization and CRO MicroConstants China will in-license the China rights for a phase II liver cancer drug, PTX-9908, from Pertinax Therapeutics of Canada. MicroConstants China will be responsible for funding clinical development of PTX-9908 in China. Pertinax will receive a royalty in connection with sales, as well as any future assignment or transfer of the rights.

PTX-9908 has been tested in healthy human volunteers and cancer patients in several phase I/II clinical trials in North America. These studies showed PTX-9908 to be safe and well-tolerated in humans, and preliminary evidence of efficacy was observed. MicroConstants China will conduct clinical research in China to establish the efficacy, safety and tolerability of PTX-9908 in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma using PTX-9908 infused intravenously.

"Our collaboration will enable expedited development of PTX-9908 in China and give us the opportunity to provide a potentially life-saving treatment to a large number of liver cancer patients with limited treatment options," said Dr. Bev Incledon, president of Pertinax.