18 June 2013 - 18 June 2013 - US MEI Pharma Inc (NASDAQ:MEIP) said today it had commenced a Phase II study of its lead drug candidate Pracinostat plus Vidaza (azacitidine) in patients with previously untreated intermediate-2 or high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

The randomised, double-blind study will assess the safety and efficacy of Pracinostat compared to placebo when combined with Vidaza. The latter has been already approved by the US FDA for treating MDS, MEI added.

The company said further that it is also preparing to start two open-label Phase II studies of Pracinostat -- one in combination with Vidaza in frontline acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in the autumn and the other in combination with Vidaza or Dacogen (decitabine) in refractory MDS soon thereafter.