ASX listed biotech company PharmAust today announced that a leading veterinary specialist would conduct more canine trials with its promising anti-cancer drug — monepantel or MPL.
NSW-based dog cancer specialist, Dr Angela Frimberger, will evaluate MPL either as a monotherapy or in conjunction with chemotherapy in dogs that have not responded to standard cancer treatments.
PharmAust’s executive Chairman, Dr Roger Aston, said combining chemotherapy with MPL in target species was a critical component of the company’s development strategy for its anti-cancer drugs.
“Chemotherapy is usually a first line treatment of cancer. Furthermore, previous studies in rodent models showed highly significant synergy between chemotherapy and MPL, without apparent enhancement of side effects.” Said Mr Aston
While development of anti-cancer drugs for humans is the main game for Pharmaust, the canine market is also valuable in its own right. A 2011 study found annual pet market sales in the US topped $US14 billion, with cancer therapies alone generating $US550 million in sales at an average treatment cost of $US1,500.
PharmAust will provide capsules newly formulated by Juniper Pharma Services to taste better, for evaluation by Dr Frimberger and her team at Veterinary Oncology Consultants.
Dr Frimberger said “So far we have shown that MPL is safe and has biological activity in dogs, and we have given it with carboplatin in two dogs with late stage, resistant cancers without any enhancement of side effects.”
"With the newly formulated capsules, we are delighted to now be able to offer the combination of MPL with other standard chemotherapeutics as well as carboplatin for dogs where standard therapy is either not an option or has not been effective.”
