Shares in Noxopharm (ASX:NOX) jumped nearly 40% in morning trades on Wednesday according to Cboe live pricing as the company announced its experimental drug CRO-67 reduced human pancreatic tumour cells implanted into mice.
The company reported significantly reduced pancreatic tumours as well as a reduction in barrier cells – literally, a barrier of cells that form around tumours and make delivering drugs difficult.
Metastatic cancer spread significantly decreased, Noxopharm reported on Wednesday, and the drugs were handled well.
Notably, tumour growth (as measured in the study) was reduced by nearly 40% after only 35 days of treatment, but, further tests will be needed to replicate this in humans. At the same time, investors are clearly watching.
The results follow prior tests treating cultivated cells where the drug was also shown to reduce tumour volumes and slow down tumour growth rates.
The latest tests were conducted alongside UNSW pancreatic cancer researchers in Sydney seeking to prove the benefits of the dual-cell therapy.
“These results are encouraging, especially as we have generated a substantial amount of data from a broad range of studies involving stringent scientific models and innovative research techniques,” UNSW lead investigator Professor Phoebe Phillips said.
“Further studies are now warranted to identify next steps and build on what we have achieved so far.”
Noxopharm CEO Dr. Gisela Mautner pointed to survival outcomes for human patients.
“Pancreatic cancer has a very poor survival rate. There is clearly an unmet need to develop new treatments, either alone or in combination with existing treatments, to help alleviate patient suffering and help save many lives.”
NOX last traded at 11cps.