OGX-427 is a second generation antisense drug which in preclinical experiments, inhibits production of Heat Shock Protein 27 (Hsp27) a cell survival protein found at elevated levels in many human cancers including prostate, lung, breast, ovarian, bladder, renal, pancreatic, multiple myeloma and liver cancer. Many anti-cancer therapies are known to further elevate Hsp27 levels. For example, Hsp27 levels increased four-fold in prostate cancer patients after treatment with chemo- or hormone therapy. Increased levels of Hsp27 in some human cancers are associated with metastases, poor prognosis and resistance to radiation or chemotherapy.

Preclinical studies show that OGX-427 significantly decreases levels of Hsp27, induces apoptosis in several human cancer cell lines, has single agent anti-tumor activity, and acts as a chemosensitizer in combination with several cytotoxic drugs including docetaxel.

OGX-427 is being evaluated in a Phase 1 study in patients with breast, prostate, ovarian, non-small cell lung, or bladder cancer who have failed potentially curative treatments or for which a curative treatment does not exist. Patients are being enrolled at clinical sites in Canada and the United States.