Starpharma cancer drug shows good PK profile

Starpharma (ASX:SPL) has completed preliminary analyses of the pharmacokinetic profile of cancer drug candidate DEP-docetaxel during an ongoing phase I trial.

The preliminary findings confirm that DE-docetaxel has a substantially extended duration of exposure, increased extent of total exposure and reduced peak levels of the drug, when compared to reference drug Taxotere.

DEP docetaxel is a formulation of the popular cancer drug produced using Starpharma’s dendrimer-enhanced platform.

“The PK profile seen with DEP docetaxel in humans is very pleasing. It fits very well with our preclinical data and these findings also support the likely explanations for the improved efficacy and improved tolerability previously seen ... in animal models,” Starpharma CEO Dr Jackie Fairley said.

“To date in the trial, there have been no reports on drug-induced nausea, hair loss, fluid retention or indeed neutropenia, which is the most important dose-limiting toxicity for Taxotere.”

Starpharma also revealed that on the strength of the PK findings, it has decided to extend the closing date of its share purchase plan by another eight days.

Starpharma is seeking to raise up to $5 million through the share purchase plan at $0.65 per share, as part of the $23 million capital raising it announced last month. The SPP will now close on 29 October.

Starpharma (ASX:SPL) shares were trading 2.33% lower at $0.66 as of around 1.30 pm on Monday.