PharmAust updates PPL-1 trial progress
THE ROADHOUSE PHARMACY: PharmAust Limited (ASX: PAA) reported an update to its ongoing anticancer drug trials, in which it claims a further patient analysed for levels of the p70S6K tumour marker has demonstrated a reduction following oral treatment with PPL-1.
The company said preliminary analysis of pharmacokinetic serum levels of PPL-1 in patients receiving the drug in trial at the Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH) has confirmed absorption following oral dosing and indicates PPL-1 is active in the high nanomolar range, which is similar to other cytotoxic drugs used during chemotherapy.
“Even though we are dealing with small numbers of patients in our analyses so far, it is exciting to see that we have achieved a statistically significant drop in p70S6K levels in white blood cells in the 5 patients examined so far (p<0.001 at day 3 of dosing),” PharmAust executive chairman Dr Roger Aston said in the company’s announcement to the Australian Securities Exchange.
“It is furthermore encouraging that the reduction in the p70S6K tumour marker appears to correlate with blood levels of the drug.
“The Clinical Research staff monitoring the trial, have not noted any serious adverse events further supporting the low side-effect profile of PPL-1.”
PharmAust explained that p70S6K is thought to be a marker and indicator of the aggressive behaviour and prognosis of carcinomas.
Overexpression of p70S6K is generally associated with aggressive disease and poor prognosis among cancer patients and patients with elevated p70S6K often have poor survival rates and metastases.
Reductions of p70S6K in blood cells may reflect blocks to tumour progression.
PPL-1 is an approved veterinary drug launched in recent years by one of the leading global animal health corporations for the treatment of parasitic diseases in sheep.
PharmAust, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Pitney Pharmaceuticals Pty Limited, owns patents on the use of PPL-1 in cancer and malignant disease.
Website: www.pharmaust.com