The US Food and Drug Administration has given the nod to phase III clinical trial proposals for a new cancer drug.

Supratek Pharma revealed that it had won approval from the regulatory body to conduct new trials of SP1049C, a drug which is designed to be used to treat patients with advanced metastatic adenocarcinoma of the upper gastrointestinal tract.

Patients enrolled in the study will have advanced adenocarcinoma of the esophagus, gastroesophageal junction and stomach and will have not found 1st or 2nd line chemotherapy effective in the treatment of their condition.

According to the Cancer Treatment Centres of America, adenocarcinomas develop in the cells which line organs such as the lungs and breasts.

Trials will take place a number of centres, with researchers comparing the effectiveness of treatment with SP1049C combined best supportive care and care provided on its own.

Masters can provide healthcare professionals with access to drugs still being examined in clinical trials in order to help meet the special needs of patients for whom other treatment options are unsuitable.