Clinical-stage oncology company PharmAust (ASX:PAA) says it has received early positive results from its phase 1 canine trial evaluating a reformulated monepantel (MPL) tablet for absorption and pharmacokinetic parameters.
According to the company, following a single dose administration of one tablet, blood concentrations of MPL exceeded those observed in the phase 1 clinical trial in humans. This was associated with reduced tumour marker levels in blood.
It also said the serum concentrations from one tablet in dogs also exceeded MPL levels observed to achieve anti-cancer activity in mice bearing human cancer xenografts.
“This preliminary data set provides early evidence that a single dose of PharmAust’s monepantel tablets can provide sufficient drug levels in serum to achieve anti-cancer activity," said PharmAust’s chief scientific officer Dr Richard Mollard.
"This is a pleasing result as it means dosing of canines by their owners will be much less of a challenge using these tablets. PharmAust will next investigate dose escalation and repeat dose administration to align long term administration frequency with these same blood levels, anti-cancer activity and the very good safety setting established for this drug.”