Ziopharm Oncology has dosed the first patient in a phase I/II trial
with ZIO-201, the company's proprietary alkylating anticancer drug for
sarcoma.

ZIO-201 is the active metabolite of ifosfamide, a frequently used, yet
highly toxic, treatment for sarcoma. ZIO-201 is designed to deliver
therapeutic activity at higher doses with less toxicity than that
associated with ifosfamide.

An ongoing phase I study suggests ZIO-201 may be given at doses that
deliver more of the active metabolite (IPM) than can be achieved using
ifosfamide.

"The potential to safely deliver ZIO-201 at high doses compared with
ifosfamide represents a potential advance in the treatment of this
disease," commented Dr Robert Benjamin, clinical medical director,
Sarcoma Center at MD Anderson Cancer Center. "We know that high-dose
ifosfamide is an effective drug in treating patients with sarcoma."

The study will take place at leading cancer centers in the US and the
UK, including The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center,
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, University of Michigan and the
Royal Marsden Hospital.

In addition, the company currently anticipates conducting phase II
studies in adult and pediatric sarcoma, along with an exploratory phase
II trial in lymphoma.

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