SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Jan. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Poniard Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:PARD) today provided an overview of its 2010 corporate, clinical and regulatory goals for picoplatin. "Our focus in 2010 is to secure a strategic partnership to continue the development of picoplatin as a preferred platinum agent in the treatment of solid tumor malignancies. We believe that current data from approximately 1,100 patients treated with picoplatin, including data from Phase 2 trials of picoplatin in colorectal, prostate and ovarian cancers, indicate that picoplatin would be a valuable addition to potential partners with marketed and development stage oncology products," said Jerry McMahon, Ph.D., chairman and chief executive officer of Poniard. "Throughout the first half of this year, we plan to a have discussions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regarding a regulatory path forward for picoplatin in small cell lung cancer. We expect to submit efficacy and safety data from the Phase 3 SPEAR trial for potential presentation at the American Society of Clinical Oncology 2010 Annual Meeting in June." Poniard plans to work toward the achievement of the following goals for picoplatin in 2010: Picoplatin for the Treatment of Small Cell Lung Cancer * Complete discussions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding a regulatory path forward for picoplatin in small cell lung cancer (SCLC). The Phase 3 SPEAR (Study of Picoplatin Efficacy After Relapse) trial enrolled 401 patients and evaluated intravenous picoplatin in SCLC patients who failed or relapsed following first-line platinum therapy within six months following initial treatment with a platinum-based therapy. While the data analysis showed that the study did not meet the primary endpoint of overall survival, the data suggest a potential trend toward a survival advantage in SCLC patients treated with picoplatin and best supportive care compared to best supportive care alone. The intent-to-treat analysis was based on 321 patient deaths and showed a hazard ratio of 0.82 and a p value of 0.089. * Submit SPEAR efficacy and safety data for potential presentation at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2010 Annual Meeting taking place June 4-8, 2010 in Chicago. Picoplatin for the Treatment of Colorectal Cancer * Present additional data from the Company's Phase 2 trial evaluating picoplatin as a neuropathy-sparing agent compared to oxaliplatin in the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) on Sunday, January 24, 2010 at the ASCO 2010 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium in Orlando, Fla. This randomized, controlled trial is being conducted with 101 metastatic CRC patients who have not received prior chemotherapy and is comparing the safety, including the incidence and severity of neuropathy, and efficacy, measured by overall survival, progression-free survival and disease control, of intravenous picoplatin in combination with 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin (the FOLPI regimen) to oxaliplatin given in combination with 5- fluorouracil and leucovorin in the modified FOLFOX-6 regimen. Data to date have shown a statistically significant reduction in neurotoxicities with the use of picoplatin in the FOLPI regimen compared with the use of oxaliplatin in the FOLFOX regimen (p