10:40 AM EDT, 10/29/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Shuttle Pharmaceuticals ( SHPH ) shares were surging Tuesday after the company said it has successfully dosed the first three patients with its ropidoxuridine drug candidate in a phase 2 trial of the prospective radiation sensitizer in patients with glioblastoma.

Shuttle previously received an orphan drug designation from the US Food and Drug Administration for ropidoxuridine, providing potential marketing exclusivity should US regulators eventually approve it for the treatment of glioblastoma.

The current trial is expected to initially enroll 40 patients divided equally into groups of 20 receiving either 1,200 milligrams or 960 milligrams of ropidoxuridine daily to determine an optimal dose. Once an optimal dose is determined, Shuttle will add another 14 glioblastoma patients to the trial, with the end point being survival compared to historical controls.

The mid-stage study is expected to last between 18 to 24 months, the company said.

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