Adherex, an Ottawa, Ontario, biopharmaceutical company, released the initial results of its anti-cancer drug at the American Society of Clinical Oncology conference June 7 in New Orleans.

During its Phase I study, Exherin, a drug designed to disrupt the blood vessels of cancers, was well tolerated in cancer patients and showed no toxicity that would limit further dose escalation.

A Phase I study is the first step in drug development following animal-based research. Phase I studies are conducted on a small number of subjects and designed to evaluate a drug's safety.

Dr. William P. Peters, chairman and chief executive officer of Adherex, said the data is only the first step in a long and uncertain process.