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- Clinical drug developer Noxopharm has seen success in using its leading drug Veyonda, to slow the spread of prostate cancer
- The drug is being trialled over 56 patients, measuring the positive responses when combined with radiotherapy
- Over two groups, an average positive response rate of 69 per cent was recorded
- Although not every patient was able to complete the full course of treatment, an unprecedented positive response in a typically harrowing treatment was seen
Noxopharm has reported positive results from its drug aimed at treating prostate cancer.
The company has been conducting a clinical trial of its leading drug candidate, Veyonda, across a total of 56 patients. Over two separate groups, the drug inhibited an averaged 69 per cent positive response rate to treatment.
The aim of the drug is to increase patient response to mixed cancer treatments like radiotherapy, as well as triggering positive changes in the immune system. This treatment can help slow, or stop cancer from growing and spreading.
One group responded positively at a rate of 62.5 per cent to the drug. The second group responded at a rate of an impressive 75 per cent.
Noxopharm Executive Chairman Dr Graham Kelly described the results as particularly encouraging.
“Late-stage [spreading prostate cancer] typically is a progressive, debilitating disease associated with mounting pain from multiple secondary tumors growing in the skeleton,” said Dr Graham.
Dr Graham explained that treatment for this avenue of cancer is realistically non-viable for slowing or stopping the spread of it. Most patients undergo treatment for this cancer for an easing of pain.
“So being able to use this combination to deliver an anti-cancer effect as evidenced by [cancer strength] responses in such a high proportion of patients, and seeing over half of the men being able to complete their full course of treatment, all in a generally well-tolerated way, is a ground-breaking and a personally highly rewarding outcome,” continued Dr Graham.
The results from today were presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging in Anaheim California.
Company management noted that Noxopharm is also in the position of being involved for two further studies of Veyonda with varying types of radiotherapy.
“Should Veyonda achieve separate indications in combination with either low-dose, external-beam radiotherapy or intravenous, radionuclide radiotherapy, then it will be well on the way to becoming an essential adjunct to radiotherapy in prostate cancer,” concluded Dr Graham.
Shares in NOX are at a small two per cent decrease this morning. Shares are priced at 49 cents in a $61.30 million market cap.
