Bionomics begins Phase 1 trial

Adelaide-based biotech Bionomics has begun a Phase 1 trial of its anti-cancer compound BNC105.

The clinical trial involves treatment of patients with advanced solid tumours. BNC105 is a vascular disruption agent (VDA) which blocks blood supply to the tumour, effectively starving it of nutrients.

Patients will be treated with BNC105 on days one and eight of a 21-day cycle, over two cycles. The trial will be conducted at clinical sites within the Cancer Trials Australia network at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and the Western Hospital in Melbourne.

Pre-clinical data indicates that BNC105 has a dual mechanism of action with the ability to not only block the supply of nutrients to the tumour but also to directly destroy cancer cells. In addition, BNC105 is retained in the tumour at high levels for an extended period of time, enhancing its anti-cancer effect.

Although VDAs have strong potential for use in combination with traditional cancer treatment options, including chemotherapy, preclinical data obtained with BNC105 to date suggest that its dual action is likely to enable its use as a single agent treatment. A large number of animals with BNC105 were cleared of their tumour burden after two cycles of treatment.

The primary objective for the trial is the evaluation of the safety and tolerability of BNC105. The results will enable the identification of an appropriate dose of BNC105 for subsequent trials.

Further objectives include the evaluation of BNC105 pharmacokinetics and its activity against tumour vasculature and tumour growth.