New anti-cancer drug trials begin
Patients suffering from cancers diagnosed as incurable have just begun clinical trials in Brisbane of a new world-first drug developed by Australian biotechnology company Cytopia Ltd.
Up to 30 patients suffering from tumours such as prostate, colon, breast cancer and leukaemia are in trials that began in May and will continue for nine to 12 months.
The drug, known as CYT997, was highly effective in animal studies in killing cancer cells and, based on that success, human trials have now begun, managing director Dr Kevin Healey said.
“We are very excited about a number of features of the drug,”
he said.
“It has a dual mode of action, directly killing cancer cells and at
the same time starving the cancer of the blood supply it must have to grow.”
The drug has another advantage – it appears that it will be effective if taken orally.
“In addition, CYT997 seems to avoid some of the mechanisms that enable tumours to become resistant to existing first line drugs,” Dr Healey said.
The trials are being held at Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH) in association with the Queensland Institute of Medical Research and Q-Pharm Pty Ltd.
Cytopia’s headquarters are in Brisbane, and its laboratories are in Melbourne.
Dr Healey said RBWH was chosen for the trials because Cytopia staff were attracted by its facilities, by the hospital’s people and their experience, and because it has a well established ethics approval process.
Last reviewed 19 January 2006