Today’s crucial milestone takes the company a step further towards commercialisation of its Monepantel drug for canines with B-cell lymphoma.
Clinical stage oncology company, PharmAust (ASX:PAA), has just announced that the Phase IIb trial of its lead candidate drug, Monepantel (MPL), has provided evidence of the blood plasma levels required to suppress B cell lymphoma growth in pet owners’ dogs.
This crucial development has now put the company in a good position to further optimise treatment levels of MPL, as it aims to progress to a Phase III study.
“As per the previous high-dose trial using monepantel tablets, a range of drug blood plasma levels was again observed in this lower dose trial, but this time all within a narrower spread,”PharmAust’s Chief Scientific Officer, Dr Richard Mollard, stated.
The trial was conducted in six dogs, with the aim of providing an indicative optimal plasma level and target therapeutic dose.
The company says no material adverse events were encountered during this stage of the clinical study.
The next step is to continue the recruitment of dogs in order to gain sufficient information for a future Phase III registration.
Dr Mollard says today’s result has identified a therapeutic window for Monenpantel.
“Examination of the blood plasma data in the context of the previous trial, while referencing side effects and efficacy, has reinforced our understanding of a target therapeutic window for monepantel’s use in dogs with B cell lymphoma,” he said.
PharmAust says that MPL may have applications in humans and may even be integrated into the current standard of care – a view shared by PharmAust’s Chairman, Dr Roger Aston.
“This represents a material advance in optimising the treatment regimen for canine patients with B-Cell lymphoma, and may have applicability to other anti- cancer treatments in companion animals and in humans,” Dr. Aston said.
“Following a Phase III trial, PharmAust will also examine how monepantel can be integrated into the current standard of care,” he added.
The MPL drug has also been tested for its antiviral activities in the fight against Covid-19.
Two weeks ago, the company announced that Liden University Medical Centre has generated indicative data showing that MPL and MPL Sulphone have demonstrated antiviral activity in non-human primate systems, which may eventually lead to the treatment for Covid-19.
Renewable energy
But PharmAust is not just about the Monepantel drug.
In March, the company’s subsidiary, Epichem, signed a licensing agreement with Illinois-based Thermaquatica, to develop and promote a disruptive waste-to-fuels technology.
The technology, Oxidative Hydrothermal Dissolution (OHD), has the potential to turn a wide range of waste and biomass feedstock into valuable energy products.
PharmAust said the market for these products is potentially in the multi billions of dollars.
This article was developed in collaboration with PharmAust, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.
This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.
You might be interested in
