Join our daily newsletter At The Bell to receive exclusive market insights
- PharmAust (PAA) continues to report disease response in dogs with cancer treated by the company in a phase II trial of its MPL product
- Of the 27 dogs fully treated so far, two have shown a partial response — meaning a tumour reduction of 30 per cent — and eight have shown stable disease
- This means a further eight of 19 dogs need to show stable disease by day 28 of treatment for the trial to be considered successful
- In any case, PharmAust says MPL and Prednisone extend survival threefold in dogs, to a median of 150 days, while maintaining quality of life
- One dog has surpassed 280 days with stable disease and maintained an “excellent quality of life”
- PAA shares were last trading at 10 cents.
PharmAust (PAA) has continued to report disease response in dogs with cancer treated by the company in a phase II trial of its MPL product
PAA has observed that using MPL and Prednisone extended the survival of dogs suffering from B-cell lymphoma to a median of 150 days while maintaining a quality of life.
The company is using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours (RECIST) to test the partial response of canines and stable disease responses to MPL and Prednisone.
Based on changes in the size of the tumour, using CT scans or MRI scans, two canines have had a partial response — a 30 per cent decrease in tumour size — to the treatment.
Of the 27 dogs that have completed the study, eight have shown ‘stable disease’, which is one of the goals of the trial.
One canine remains on trial in WA, and six others have partially completed the 28-day evaluation and await plasma analysis to confirm RECIST outcomes.
Four dogs were removed from the study following a lack of compliance with tablet administration, and one dog died on day four.
Another five failed to meet PAA criteria levels of five micromoles of plasma MPL and have been excluded from the trial.
However, one canine has surpassed 280 days with stable disease and continued “excellent quality of life” as attested by dog owner testimonials.
PAA requires eight out of a further 19 dogs to show improvement in stable disease symptoms by day 28 for the trial to meet its desired trial outcomes.
The MPL phase II trial is expected to be completed by mid-2023.
PAA said its commercial strategy to bridge the options of standard-of-care with chemotherapy was on target.
The company has begun confidential discussions with potential licensing partners
for canine cancer.
PAA shares were last trading at 10 cents.
