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Taxanes are the most commonly prescribed chemotherapy to treat breast cancer. About 80% of breast cancer patients will develop some degree of Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN).¹ In addition, taxanes are used to treat prostate cancer, and other solid tumors. Currently, approximately 430,000 patients in the US and EU receive taxane treatment.²

CIPN occurs because the microtubule-based mechanism of taxanes and other cancer treatments that include vinca alkaloids and epothilones, can lead to peripheral nerve damage as a result of calcium dysregulation.

Symptoms of CIPN include:

• Tingling or pins-and-needles sensation
• Burning or numbness
• Sensitivity to hot or cold
• Difficulty with fine motor skills such as writing, buttoning and unbuttoning clothing, picking up small objects, playing musical instruments, painting and knitting

CIPN significantly reduces quality of life, potentially leading to lifelong disability. There are no effective treatments for preventing nerve damage caused by CIPN. The only way to minimize CIPN is to reduce taxane dosing or interrupt the dosing schedule, both of which run the risk of adversely affecting treatment effectiveness and patient outcome.

Pretreatment with OSM-0205 in patients has the potential to prevent CIPN, preserving the patient’s quality of life and enabling more robust chemotherapy.