Despite corona, pivotal pancreatic cancer study in Israel hits benchmark

Rafael Pharmaceuticals has reached 75% of the 500-patient enrollment needed for its pivotal phase-3 clinical trial for metastatic pancreatic cancer, despite COVID-19, the company told The Jerusalem Post. In addition, the company launched a COVID-19 task force to ensure appropriate medical centers hosting the trials are implementing safety measures and that testing could continue. 

Many of the patients are from Israel, according to Sanjeev Luther, Rafael’s president and CEO, who explained that the trial is evaluating the efficacy and safety of Rafael’s lead compound CPI-613 in combination with modified FOLFIRINOX as first-line therapy.