Country for PR: China
Contributor: PR Newswire Asia (China)
Friday, November 26 2021 - 21:39
AsiaNet
Australian biotech company Starpharma announces positive interim results from the prostate cancer cohort in its ongoing phase 2 trial of DEP(R) cabazitaxel
MELBOURNE, Australia, Nov. 26, 2021 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ --

Starpharma showed that 100% of evaluable patients with Stage IV prostate cancer 
have had efficacy responses, utilising one or more standard measures of disease.

DEP(R) cabazitaxel(https://starpharma.com/drug_delivery/dep_cabazitaxel)is a 
patented, detergent(polysorbate-80[1])-free, nanoparticle version of the 
conventional cancer drug, Jevtana(R) - a leading oncology agent used to treat 
advanced prostate cancer. Sales of Jevtana(R) exceeded US$600 million in 2020. 

Starpharma's(https://starpharma.com/)interim results in Stage IV prostate 
cancer show that one or more efficacy signals[2] were observed in 100% of 
patients assessed following DEP(R) cabazitaxel treatment.

- 64% of patients with assessable tumours saw prolonged stable disease and 
significant reductions in tumour size for up to 36 weeks 
- 90% of patients with assessable PSA(Prostate Specific Antigen)tumour 
biomarker levels had a PSA reduction; >50% of these patients achieved a PSA 
reduction of at least 50% 
- 83% of patients with secondary bone disease exhibited either no progression 
or an improvement in bone disease 
- 56% of evaluable patients had responses to all three measures evaluated

Starpharma's positive interim results(https://starpharma.com/news/636)are 
particularly significant given all patients in this cohort had late-stage 
prostate cancer and had failed multiple anti-cancer treatments, in addition to 
surgeries and radiation, prior to entering the DEP(R) cabazitaxel trial.

Importantly, patients treated with DEP(R) cabazitaxel also experienced less 
severe bone marrow toxicity, significantly lower rates of severe neutropenia 
and no instances of neutropenic sepsis, which are associated with conventional 
cabazitaxel. The absence of detergent-like polysorbate-80 in the DEP(R) 
cabazitaxel formulation eliminated the need for prophylactic corticosteroids 
and antihistamines, with no anaphylaxis or severe hypersensitivity reactions 
observed. This avoidance of long-term steroid use is attractive, particularly 
in prostate cancer patients where bone health can be a significant issue. 

DEP(R) cabazitaxel is one of Starpharma's three internal clinical-stage DEP(R) 
assets, alongside DEP(R) docetaxel and DEP(R) irinotecan, which Starpharma 
intends to licence following phase 2. Starpharma also has a number of partnered 
DEP(R) programs including with AstraZeneca and Merck & Co., Inc.

[1] Polysorbate 80 is a detergent-like substance, which is used to solubilise 
insoluble molecules, and which is a component of conventional cabazitaxel 
products, including Jevtana(R) and generic forms. 
[2] Efficacy in the prostate cancer cohort in the trial was assessed 
referencing the applicable aspects of the internationally recognised Prostate 
Cancer Working Group (PCWG3) guidelines.
 
Source:Starpharma
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