Novogen JV's ovarian cancer drug effective in vivo

Novogen’s (ASX:NRT) joint venture with Yale University, CanTx, has revealed its lead cancer candidate Trx-1 demonstrated a potent anticancer effect in a mouse model of ovarian cancer.

Trx-1 induced an anti-tumoural effect in an animal model considered to be highly representative of ovarian cancer in humans. The model involves extracting ovarian cancer stem cells from a patient with refractory ovarian cancer and injecting them intra-peritoneally in laboratory mice.

Dr Gil Mor, professor of obstetrics and gynaecology and reproductive science at Yale University School of Medicine and the co-lead for clinical development at CanTx, said the finding is significant.

“Until now, we have not been able to identify a drug from any company that is effective in this model,” he said. “So it is very exciting to observe an anti-tumoural effect with Trx-1.”

CanTx aims to develop the candidate into a product that is administered intra-peritoneally, and that uses a ‘smart’ drug delivery system to seek out tumour cells and eliminate all types of cells within tumours.

“The advantage of an intra-peritoneal product is that it delivers drug directly to where it is needed,” Dr Mor said. “And while we are focusing at the moment on ovarian cancer, there is every reason to believe that the same strategy will be applicable to other types of tumours contained within the abdominal cavity.”

Novogen and Yale entered the joint venture in November last year. CanTx is 85% owned by Novogen and led by Novogen CEO Dr Graham Kelly.

Previous lab research suggests that Trx-1 can penetrate and destroy ovarian cancer tumour cell structures.

Novogen (ASX:NRT) shares were trading unchanged at $0.185 as of around 2.30 pm on Wednesday.