- Kazia Therapeutics (KZA) has released the top-line final data from a phase one study of its Cantrixil therapy in ovarian cancer
- Kazia enrolled 25 patients with advanced metastatic ovarian cancer across Australia and the U.S. for dose escalation and dose expansion studies
- The overall response rate of 19 per cent shows some promise for patients with persistent or recurrent ovarian cancer
- Kazia will next seek to present the data at a suitable academic conference and to publish the findings in a peer-reviewed journal in the first half of next year
- The company is also looking for potential partners to help bring Cantrixil into the next phase of development
- Kazia Therapeutics is up 4.8 per cent to $1.42
Kazia Therapeutics (KZA) has released the top-line final data from a phase one study of its Cantrixil therapy in ovarian cancer.
The study
Kazia enrolled 25 patients with advanced metastatic ovarian cancer across Australia and the U.S. for dose escalation and dose expansion studies.
The trial achieved its primary objective, determining the maximum tolerated dose
of Cantrixil to be 5 milligrams per kilogram.
Of the enrolled patients, 16 were able to be evaluated for efficacy, with one patient demonstrating a complete response, and two patients experiencing a partial response, according to industry-standard RECIST (response evaluation criteria in solid tumors) criteria.
Those results yield an overall response rate of 19 per cent. Notably, the patient who experienced a complete response is still in remission some three years after receiving the therapy.
The drug was generally well-tolerated, with side-effects including vomiting, nausea and abdominal pain within a reasonable range for cancer therapies.
Given the study was conducted in patients with persistent or recurrent ovarian cancer, the results bode well at this early stage for further clinical trials.
Australian lead investigator Associate Professor Jim Coward says Cantrixil shows considerable promise as a treatment for advanced ovarian cancer.
“This was a heavily pre-treated population, comprising patients with very advanced disease,” Professor Coward said.
“Existing treatment options for such patients are limited, and there remains an urgent need for new therapies. My colleagues and I are excited by the potential for Cantrixil to provide benefit here, and we look forward to seeing the drug move forward in its development,” he added.
Looking ahead
Kazia will next seek to present the data at a suitable academic conference and to publish the findings in a peer-reviewed journal in the first half of next year.
Until then, the full study data will remain embargoed so as not to prejudice the peer-review process.
Now, Kazia CEO Dr James Garner says the company is looking for partners to assist in the next phase of Cantrixil’s development.
“The data unambiguously demonstrates the potential for Cantrixil to provide benefit in this very challenging patient population,” Dr Garner said.
“With this positive data in hand, our focus now shifts to partnering activity, and we hope to transition Cantrixil to a company which both shares our belief in its potential and is able to apply the necessary resources and expertise to realise that potential over the next chapter of its development,” he added.
Kazia Therapeutics is up 4.8 per cent to $1.42 at 1:10 pm AEDT.