Cancer treatment: Pralatrexate

In 2009, the U.S. FDA approved pralatrexate, a treatment for peripheral T-cell lymphoma. Research on drugs of this class began in the 1950s at SRI. A subsequent scientific collaboration among SRI, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and Southern Research Institute led to clinical trials on related compounds conducted by Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center starting in the 1980s. Pralatrexate was ultimately identified as a viable clinical candidate and was licensed to Allos Therapeutics for further development in 2002.

Pralatrexate has shown enhanced efficacy with less toxicity than other therapeutic regimens. It is also being studied against other forms of cancer, including non-small-cell lung cancer.