Canopus’ Phase II mucositis clinical trial began in November 2009. Oltipraz administered in the form of an oral rinse is being evaluated in head and neck cancer patients receiving radiation and chemotherapy treatment. All patients receiving oltipraz prior to radiation were protected from mucositis and all completed the entire course of radiation therapy.
“Although this study is still in its early stages, oltipraz does seem to be beneficial to the patients. These patients do develop early erythema (redness of the skin resulting from dilation of blood vessels-inflammation) but that does not seem to progress as seen in all other patients. There also appears to be a skin sparing effect on the oltipraz-treated patients that helps with the prevention of severe mucositis.”
New groups of patients are currently being screened for the study.