A new drug from Ariad Pharmaceuticals, Inc. may help people with cancer for whom current therapies don’t work, according to a report released today in the scientific journal Cancer Cell.

The paper, which is co-authored by Ariad, describes for the first time how this potential drug may help fight aggressive blood cancers while preventing people from undergoing highly risky transplants.

“In some cases, when cancer develops new resistance, drugs no longer work,” said Ariad Chief Scientific Officer Timothy P. Clackson. “So people take chances with risky bone marrow transfers.”

Cambridge-based Ariad’s drug may offer people an alternative treatment, he said.

Ariad is currently conducting a Phase 1 trial for its drug, called AP24534, with people with a variety of blood cancers.

The study’s results will likely be released at next month’s American Society of Hematology meeting.