Novogen identifies lead anti-tropomyosin drug

Novogen (ASX:NRT) has identified a lead drug candidate from its anti-tropomyosin program, which the company plans to develop into a cancer treatment.

The candidate, ATM-3507, has the potential to improve the anticancer activity of several existing chemotherapies by targeting the microfilaments within a cancer cell’s skeleton.

Existing chemotherapies of the takane and vinca alkaloid classes target the microtubules to block the ability of a cancer cell’s ability to divide and survive.

“The microtubule inhibitors have been the backbone of chemotherapy for the past 40 years, but they come with three main problems,” Novogen ATM Product Director Dr Justine Stehn said.

“One is that they are toxic because their inhibitory effect is not limited to cancer cells. Another is that cancer cells rapidly develop resistance to these drugs. A third is that many forms of cancer show no response.”

Targeting the microfilaments at the same time as the microtubules has the potential to significantly enhance the anticancer effect of chemotherapies, he said.

ATM-3507 targets the terminal end of the Tm5NM1 tropomyosin isoform and has been shown in lab trials to be highly effective at disrupting the microfilaments of cancer cells.

Novogen has been focusing development of its anti-tropomyosin drugs on prostate cancer, melanoma and neuroblastoma. The company aims to commence human trials of the candidate in these indications starting in early 2016.

The company is particularly focusing on paediatric cancers - neuroblastoma is the main solid cancer afflicting children.

Novogen (ASX:NRT) shares were trading 7.14% higher at $0.09 as of around 2 pm on Friday.