Several ASX companies are repurposing or resurrecting abandoned or under utilised drugs\u00a0
\nParadigm Biopharmaceuticals identified the potential of FDA-approved PPS that has a long track record of treating inflammation
\nStarpharma has developed technology to improve the effectiveness and safety of pharmaceutical drugs, especially cancer treatments<\/p>\n
The statistics are grim when it comes to pharmaceutical drugs which make it to market even after demonstrating success in late stage trials.<\/p>\n
Seasoned biotech executive and Race Oncology (ASX:RAC)<\/strong><\/a> CEO Dr Daniel Tillett says up to 25% of potential pharmaceutical treatments never reach the market with various reasons impeding progress of what are often promising drugs.<\/p>\n He says companies often shift their focus during the extensive drug development process, resulting in abandonment due to factors like short patent life or divergence from commercial objectives.<\/p>\n The adverse impact of mergers and acquisitions in the pharmaceutical sector can also spell doom for effective treatments if the acquiring company lacks interest.<\/p>\n Furthermore, Tillett says complex administration requirements can undermine the commercial viability of otherwise efficacious drugs when compared to simpler alternatives.<\/p>\n But there are strategies rejuvenate abandoned drugs, including out-licensing to new firms for clinical redevelopment or reformulation to improve delivery methods.<\/p>\n Repurposing for rare diseases, supported by orphan drug designation providing market exclusivity, presents another avenue for resurrection.<\/p>\n In part 3 of our series we look at more ASX-listed biotech companies resurrecting or repurposing abandoned or under utilised drugs.<\/p>\n READ Which ASX companies are resurrecting abandoned drugs to bring effective treatments to patients? Part 1<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n READ Which ASX companies are resurrecting abandoned drugs to bring effective treatments to patients? Part 2<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n PAR identified the potential of PPS, an FDA-approved drug that has a long track record of treating inflammation.<\/p>\n PAR managing director Paul Rennie told Stockhead<\/em>\u00a0 PPS was developed in Germany in 1949 and has established anti-inflammatory and anti-thrombotic properties.<\/p>\n \u201cIt has been in use for over 60 years and as such its safety profile has been firmly established,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n \u201cBy working closely with the proprietary manufacturer of PPS, we have been able to build upon the substantial knowledge and expertise available from earlier regulatory filings.\u201d<\/p>\n He says this includes decades of accumulated toxicology safety data, manufacturing \u2018know-how\u2019, and extensive published information about PPS\u2019s mechanisms of action,\u00a0 which primarily involve interactions with proteins impacting inflammation.<\/p>\n PAR has been able to progress this knowledge to conduct two Phase 2 clinical trials treating patients with osteoarthris and have recently completed the first stage of its Phase 3 program by using PPS by subcutaneous injection (iPPS).<\/p>\n \u201cThrough these clinical trials PAR has recruited more than 750 participants into the study, and has also been able to provide prescribing doctors with iPPS to treat over 700 patients under the TGA special access scheme providing significant real world evidence of the benefit iPPS can provide to those suffering with osteoarthritis.\u201d<\/p>\n Rennie says the company believes in identifying and transforming underutilised molecules is the most optimal path to addressing an unmet need like osteoarthritis.<\/p>\n \u201cOur approach is to take an existing approved drug, which has demonstrated safety in its approved indication\/s and repurposing that drug in a new patented therapeutic application,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n \u201cOver 30% of new drugs or biologics approved or launched globally represent drugs repurposed for new indications, reformulations or new combinations of existing drugs.\u201d<\/p>\n Rennie says there are several potential benefits of using a drug repurposing\/repositioning strategy in comparison to conventional drug development programs.<\/p>\n \u201cThe reduction in the time, cost and risk associated with the clinical and commercial development pathway to taking new products to market is significant, and offers new avenues of hope for patients,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n \u201cThe cost and complexity of starting with a new molecule is high, encourages iterative progress and reduces the potential for genuine discovery.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n SPL has developed its proprietary Dendrimer Enhanced Products platform (DEP) to improve the effectiveness and safety of drugs, especially cancer treatments.<\/p>\n DEP is based on dendrimers, which are highly branched polymers, to enhance the delivery of cancer treatments and in turn reduce toxic side effects such as neutropenia, nausea, severe diarrhoea and hair loss from chemotherapy agents.<\/p>\n CEO and managing director Cheryl Maley says SPL\u2019s scientists can modify the properties of a wide range of drugs using its DEP dendrimer technology to achieve the desired function.<\/p>\n \u201cFor example, we can increase a drug\u2019s half-life, which can result in several patient benefits, including a prolonged therapeutic effect, reduced frequency of administration, steadier blood levels, and potential for increased efficacy,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n \u201cIn cancer applications, DEP dendrimers also provide the ability to directly target therapeutic payloads to tumours to increase efficacy.\u201d<\/p>\n Maley says SPL has achieved significant progress in developing three clinical-stage candidates, which are intended as improved reformulated versions of established chemotherapy drugs that have been used in patients for many years.<\/p>\n \u201cThe dendrimer-based versions of these drugs have demonstrated enhanced tolerability, with a better side effect profile, and similar or improved efficacy outcomes for patients in Phase 2 trials,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n \u201cStarpharma is also collaborating with other companies to enhance the performance of drugs in their development pipeline, using Starpharma\u2019s dendrimer technology.\u201d<\/p>\n She says DEP dendrimers can be applied to a wide range of drug\/therapeutic payloads, including chemotherapies and radioisotopes.<\/p>\n SPL recently announced<\/a> it had entered into a strategic partnership with Medicxi, a leading life sciences investment firm dedicated to financing companies developing innovative medicines, to co-found a new UK-based company called Petalion Therapeutics.<\/p>\n Petalion will initially focus on developing a novel targeted dendrimer-drug conjugate therapy in oncology, using SPL\u2019s proprietary DEP dendrimer platform technology.<\/p>\n Medicxi will fund Petalion with an initial investment of up to ~$38 million to finance the development of a novel oncology drug candidate.<\/p>\n SPL will license certain intellectual property to Petalion as required for the research, development, manufacture and commercialisation of the potential new therapeutic and, in exchange, will receive an equity holding of 22.5% in Petalion.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \ufeff<\/span>\ufeff<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n At Stockhead, we tell it like it is. While Paradigm Biopharmaceuticals is a Stockhead advertiser, the company did not sponsor this article.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n The post Which ASX companies are resurrecting abandoned drugs? Part 3<\/a> appeared first on Stockhead<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Paradigm Biopharmaceuticals (ASX:PAR)<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n
Starpharma (ASX:SPL)<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n
The PAR & SPL share price<\/h2>\n\n