Targeted DEP™ shows sustained superior performance in ovarian cancer model

Targeted DEP™ shows sustained superior performance in ovarian cancer model

If this is not a cause for re rating Starpharma - it really looks like we are in the twilight zone

The announcement once filtered through the investment community should surely bring this up well over $1 mark

The day has not ended yet

Lets see what happens


Melbourne, Australia; 2 February 2016: Starpharma (ASX: SPL, OTCQX: SPHRY) today announced the final results of the preclinical study of its HER2-targeted DEP™ conjugate, which achieved complete tumour regression at the last study time point of 120 days post dosing. These results are an extension of the previously announced findings that showed complete tumour regression at 60 days post dosing with the HER2- targeted DEP™ conjugate. Starpharma’s HER2-targeted DEP™ conjugate also significantly outperformed all other treatment groups, including Kadcyla® (Trastuzumab-DM1), a Herceptin® antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) currently marketed by Roche, with respect to both tumour regression and survival. In the study, 100% of mice treated with Starpharma’s HER2-targeted DEP™ conjugate were tumour-free within three weeks of the commencement of treatment and remained that way for the total duration of the study. In contrast, only tumour stasis was observed during treatment in the Kadcyla® group, with a maximum tumour volume inhibition of 32%1 with significant tumour regrowth occurring soon after the completion of dosing. Starpharma Chief Executive, Dr Jackie Fairley, commented, “We are very excited by these latest results for our Targeted DEP™ conjugates and the feedback from commercial parties on the study data has been very positive indeed. Both the extent and the sustained nature of the anticancer effect seen with Starpharma’s DEP™ candidate have been considered most impressive. Discussions are now underway with a number of leading pharmaceutical companies in relation Targeted DEP™ conjugates and the application of Starpharma’s Targeted DEP™ platform to their proprietary drugs.” This study was conducted for Starpharma by an internationally recognised cancer organisation, as part of a wider program of studies to assess various Targeted DEP™ conjugates. The study was conducted using a well-established ovarian cancer model for assessing efficacy of therapies against HER2-positive cancer cell lines. The results from this study clearly demonstrate significant and long term survival benefits for the Targeted DEP™ conjugate compared to other treatment groups, including Kadcyla®. 1 See Figure 3. Percentage Tumour Inhibition Page 2 of 5 The top 3 antibody based treatments in cancer (Rituxan®, Avastin® and Herceptin®) had total sales in excess of $US20 billion in 2014. Targeted therapies for cancer, such as the ADCs Kadcyla® and Adcetris®, had combined sales in excess of US$1 billion in 2014, with Kadcyla® sales growing at 144% versus the previous year. The market for ADCs is expected to grow to US$9 billion annually by 2023.