PharmAust strikes Japanese research and patent collaboration

THE ROADHOUSE PHARMACY: PharmAust Limited (ASX: PAA) has established a joint intellectual property (IP) position with a Japanese partner.

PharmAust explained the partner company is the same, yet to be named, Japanese corporation it had signed a Materials Transfer Agreement (MTA) with in July 2013.

According to PharmAust the joint IP allows it to access to some 80 analogues of PPL-1, which have been synthesised by the Japanese research partner and tested for anticancer activity by PharmAust.

The Joint Patent Application, which is anticipated to be published in March 2015, also permits PharmAust to commercialise the analogues subject to other prevailing IP at the time of commercialisation.

This company believes the collaboration broadens and strengthens PharmAust’s IP position.

“The commercialisation of aminoacetonitriles in cancer, of which PPL-1 is a key approved product for treatment of veterinary parasites, is PharmAust’s principal activity at the present time,” PharmAust executive chairman, Dr Roger Aston said in the company’s announcement to the Australian Securities Exchange.

“Both the current dog trial and the human trial underway in NSW and SA respectively are targeting cancer under circumstances where the recipient has failed all standards of care.

“Success in either or both of these trials will be a key driver for commercial development of anticancer drugs based on the aminoacetonitrile class of drug and in the forging of alliances to commercialise such products.

“PharmAust currently has a Collaborative Research and Option Agreement with one of the top five major global pharmaceutical companies for the development and commercialisation of PPL-1 in veterinary cancers.”

Website: www.pharmaust.com