The company has two small molecule anticancer agents, including CLORETAZINETM (VNP40101M) and Triapine, in clinical development; and other small molecules and a drug delivery system, including KS119W and heterocyclic hydrazones in preclinical development.
Its lead product candidate CLORETAZINETM (VNP40101M), which is in Phase II single agent trial, is a sulfonylhydrazine alkylating agent for the treatment of relapsed acute myelogenous leukemia.
Triapine is a small molecule that inhibits the enzyme ribonucleotide reductase, and prevents the replication of tumor cells by blocking a critical step in DNA synthesis.
Triapine is in Phase II combination trial with gemcitabine in pancreatic cancer.
KS119 is an additional cytotoxic (cell-damaging) compound from the sulfonylhydrazine class.
Heterocyclic hydrazones are anticancer compounds that have demonstrated potent antitumor effects.
It also has one product development program, TAPET (Tumor Amplified Protein Expression Therapy), a drug delivery system using modified Salmonella bacteria, which is designed to deliver anticancer agents directly to solid tumors.
Vion Pharmaceuticals has a collaboration agreement with the National Cancer Institute for the clinical development of Triapine.
The company was incorporated in 1992 and was formerly known as OncoRx, Inc.
It changed its name to Vion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
in 1996.
Vion Pharmaceuticals is based in New Haven, Connecticut.
