Alchemia gets results with anti-cancer compound

Alchemia (ASX: ACL) will commence the preclinical studies necessary to take its lead anti-cancer compound into human clinical trials after positive results from studies in an animal model of lung cancer.

Previous studies have shown promising results for the compound in an animal model of prostate cancer, and the company plans to test the compound against other forms of cancer

The compound is one of a new class of angiogenesis inhibitors and acts by inhibiting the release of growth factors essential for blood vessel growth in tumours.

In combination with the maximum tolerated dose of chemotherapeutic drug paclitaxel, a commonly used drug for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer, the tumour growth inhibition rose from 45 per cent to 75 per cent without any adverse side effects.

The study was performed at the Institute for Drug Development in the US by the not-for-profit Cancer Therapy and Research Center (CTRC).

Alchemia CEO Tracie Ramsdale said the company hoped to be able to commence clinical trials early in 2006.