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  • Kazia Therapeutics (KZA) has shared new data from its phase II trial of paxalisib which are highly consistent with previous data
  • The trial is evaluating the use of the drug to treat glioblastoma, a common and aggressive form of brain cancer
  • New interim analysis shows both the progression-free survival and overall survival of patients treated with paxalisib is longer than those receiving the standard of care treatment
  • CEO Dr James Garner said the consistency in results to-date provides confidence in their reliability
  • The Phase II trial is expected to conclude in the first half of 2021, but Kazia has already entered the operational phase of the GBM AGILE pivotal study
  • Shares have jumped 34 per cent and been trading at $1.60

Kazia Therapeutics (KZA) has shared new data from its phase II trial of paxalisib which are highly consistent with previous data.

The trial is evaluating the use of the drug to treat glioblastoma, a common and aggressive form of brain cancer, and the interim analysis will be presented at the Society for Neuro-Oncology’s Annual Meeting later this week.

The new analysis shows the progression-free survival (PFS) of patients treated with paxalisib was 3.1 months longer than for temozolomide, the existing standard of care treatment.

The overall survival (OS) of patients treated with paxalisib was also 4.8 months longer than for temozolomide.

CEO Dr James Garner said the consistency of results to-date is an excellent outcome for the development of paxalisib.

“In studies such as this, volatility is the enemy of dependability. From the very first efficacy data we reported from this study, in November 2019, to today’s latest analysis, the PFS and OS figures have remained extremely stable as the study has progressed. This gives us a great deal of confidence that what we are seeing is representative and reliable,” Dr James stated.

“We expect this study to conclude in the first half of calendar 2021, but it has already provided useful information to guide the development of paxalisib. We have moved into the operational phase of the GBM AGILE pivotal study, and we expect that study to now be the primary focus of our work in glioblastoma from this point forward,” he added.

Meanwhile, the company is progressing several other studies with paxalisib including one at St Jude in patients with DIPG and Diffuse Midline Gliomas.

Interim analysis of the paediatric trial data shows the safety profile and pharmacokinetics to be similar to adult data.

This trial is also due to be completed in the first half of next year.

Shares have jumped 34 per cent and been trading at $1.60 at 11:30 am AEDT.

KZA by the numbers
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