New phase IIa clinical trials have launched to examine the effectiveness of a drug to treat advanced solid tumours.

VioQuest Pharmaceuticals said that the tests on its protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor Lenocta will "evaluate the clinical efficacy and biological effectiveness" of the drug when given to patients at "the highest tolerable dose".

Michael Becker, the president and chief executive officer of VioQuest Pharmaceuticals commented that the trial marked "a significant milestone in the development of Lenocta as a potential cancer therapy".

Solid tumours, such as sarcomas, carcinomas and lymphomas can be tricky to treat in some patients,

Participants in the trial will also be given the immune stimulant interferon alpha, which the firm said is currently used to treat hepatitis C and B, as well as in a number of cancer therapies.

Masters has many years of experience in providing medicines for clinical trial use and can source drugs from more than 200 suppliers across the world.

The company can deliver to even the most remote areas and has the logistical capability to turn around a request for drugs in just 24 hours.