Starpharma (ASX:SPL) has announced that its nanoparticle formulation, DEP irinotecan, showed significant efficacy and safety benefits over leading colorectal cancer drugs irinotecan and cetuximab in the irinotecan-refractory HT-29 human colon cancer model.
Irinotecan is used as a component of first-line therapy for the treatment of colorectal cancer, which is one of the most common cancers in the world, affecting more than ine million individuals annually and is the third-leading cause of cancer-related death.
Starpharma's DEP irinotecan is a novel nanoparticle formulation of SN-38, the active constituent of irinotecan, delivered using the company's DEP platform.
According to the company, the results for DEP irinotecan in this irinotecan-refractory human colon cancer model build on previously announced data in multiple human cancer models.
"These results also add further support to the growing body of data demonstrating that DEP drugs perform better when used in combination (e.g. when used with Erbitux) than the originator product (e.g. Camptosar) used in that same combination," it said.
“These impressive results for DEP irinotecan once again demonstrate the significant advantage conveyed by the DEP platform," said CEO Dr Jackie Fairley.
"Combinations using DEP drugs are consistently showing better performance than the same combinations using the originator products (e.g. Camptosar). These results are particularly interesting given we have also previously shown the beneficial effect of using DEP docetaxel, DEP cabazitaxel and AZD0466 as part of a combination therapy approach.”