Scienza e Tecnologia
Australian biotech company Starpharma announces positive interim results from the prostate cancer cohort in its ongoing phase 2 trial of DEP® cabazitaxel
Starpharma's interim results in Stage IV prostate cancer show that one or more efficacy signals were observed in 100% of patients assessed following DEP cabazitaxel treatment.
Starpharma's positive interim results 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 cabazitaxel trial.
Importantly, patients treated with DEP 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 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 cabazitaxel is one of Starpharma's three internal clinical-stage DEP assets, alongside DEP docetaxel and DEP irinotecan, which Starpharma intends to licence following phase 2. Starpharma also has a number of partnered DEP programs including with AstraZeneca and Merck & Co., Inc.