Redx Pharma PLC's (AIM:REDX) phase II data for its cancer drug, zamaporvint, showed a disease control rate of 57% along with around a 30% partial response rate when combined with an immune checkpoint inhibitor drug called nivolumab in people with a type of colorectal cancer called MSS mCRC.
The encouraging data was presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology Gastrointestinal Cancers (ESMO GI) Congress.
Zamaporvint is a Porcupine inhibitor, that targets the Wnt signalling pathway, which is crucial for cell growth.
By blocking this pathway, this class of new drugs aim to stop cancer cells from growing and spreading.
The trials, part of the PORCUPINE study, focused on patients with hard-to-treat cancers with specific genetic markers (RNF43 mutation or RSPO fusion).
Natalie Cook, the lead investigator for the zamaporvint studies, said: "It is very encouraging to see these results. The targeted patients have few treatment options, and this new combination could offer a much-needed alternative."
In the trial, zamaporvint was generally well tolerated, and the combination with nivolumab appeared to be more effective than zamaporvint alone.
The study also included other types of gastrointestinal cancers, such as biliary tract cancer and pancreatic cancer, showing some benefits, although further research is needed.