FDA clears Tekmira Phase 1 trial

Tekmira Pharmaceuticals (TSX:TKM) has been cleared by the FDA to begin a Phase 1 human trial of its TKM-PLK1 treatment for patients with advanced solid tumour cancers, who are not well served by current therapy.

The trial is scheduled to start before the end of 2010. It is designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of TKM-PLK1, which is licensed under Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: ALNY) intellectual property.  Alnylam has the right to co-develop TKM-PLK1 until the start of a Phase 2 clinical trial.