Bionomics (ASX: BNO) is an Australian based international biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of innovative small molecule therapeutics forcancer, diseases of the central nervous system (“CNS”) and immune disorders.
The company has generated multiple drug candidates and targets in the therapeutic areas of cancer, anxiety, multiple sclerosis and epilepsy. The company has a strong out-license record in conjunction with its in-house development program which has seen two highly promising drugs enter clinical trials in the past two years.
Bionomics presents at American Society of Clinical Oncology conference
Adelaide-based drug discovery and development company Bionomics (ASX: BNO) has presented data from its first-in-human trial for its anti-cancer compound BNC105 at the annual American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) conference in Chicago, Illinois.
BNC105 is based upon the identification of a novel compound that potently and selectively restricts blood flow within tumours.
ASCO is a prestigious forum strongly focused on patient-oriented clinical research. The Phase I dose escalation study was conducted in patients with different solid tumours, including colorectal carcinomas, head and neck cancers, renal cell cancer and mesothelioma.
The data shows that BNC105P (the pro-drug form of BNC105) was well tolerated without any serious adverse side effects below the maximum dose of 18.9 mg/m2. Stable disease was observed in 4 of 16 patients who completed at least two cycles of treatment at doses of 8.4 mg/m2 or higher.
Dr Deborah Rathjen, managing director of Bionomics, said “the publication of the outcomes of the successful Phase I trial strengthens confidence in the ongoing development of BNC105 and underpins the rationale of the Phase II trials that are currently in progress."
"We are very excited by the potential of this drug and anticipate initial Phase II data being available as early as the end of this year for the renal cancer trial and in the first half of calendar year 2011 for mesothelioma.”
BNC105 has the potential to treat all solid tumour types. Bionomics has elected renal cell cancer and
mesothelioma as the first Phase II clinical trial indications for BNC105, these have a fast path to market.
Renal cancer was the market entry indication for Sutent (Pfizer) and similarly mesothelioma for Alimta (Lilly). Both are blockbuster drugs with 2009 sales of US$964 million and US$1.7 billion respectively.
