On January 10, 2018 Delcath Systems, Inc. (OTCQB:DCTH), an interventional oncology company focused on the treatment of primary and metastatic liver cancers, reported that it has concluded a modification agreement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Phase 3 clinical trial of Melphalan Hydrochloride for Injection for use with the Delcath Hepatic Delivery System (Melphalan/HDS) to treat patients with hepatic dominant ocular melanoma (The FOCUS Trial). The modification agreement revises the FOCUS trial’s eligibility criteria to permit a greater extent of extra-hepatic disease by removing the size restriction, number and location of extra-hepatic lesions, in conjunction with a treatment plan for the extra-hepatic metastases.

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Commenting on the announcement, Jennifer K. Simpson, Ph.D., President and CEO of Delcath Systems, "We requested this protocol modification to improve patient access to this important clinical trial for appropriately selected and managed patients. In an ultra-orphan indication like ocular melanoma, striking the appropriate balance between eligibility criteria and patient access can be a challenge. We are pleased that the FDA agreed to this modification, and hope that once approved by the institutional review boards of our participating clinical trial sites, that this modification will help accelerate enrollment in this registrational trial."

PHP Therapy with Melphalan/HDS was developed by Delcath Systems as a targeted, whole organ therapy for the liver. It is commercially available as a device in Europe, where it is marketed as CHEMOSAT. The system has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and is undergoing Phase 3 clinical testing in the U.S. as an investigational product.