#Australia #Kazia Therapeutics #Paxalisib #Queensland #Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Kazia Therapeutics Launches Groundbreaking Clinical Trial

Kazia Therapeutics Limited, an oncology-focused drug development company, is optimistic about its newly approved clinical trial. The study focuses on an innovative treatment regimen that combines paxalisib with established immunotherapy options for women battling advanced breast cancer.

The trial, named the ABC-Pax study, represents a novel effort to tackle the challenges posed by triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), a particularly aggressive and treatment-resistant form of the disease. Featuring a multi-centre design, the open-label Phase 1b trial aims to recruit 24 patients from premier cancer treatment facilities in Queensland, Australia. Participants in the trial will receive a combination of paxalisib along with either KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) or LYNPARZA® (olaparib) for a duration of up to 12 months.

This study emerges from vital collaborative research conducted by QIMR Berghofer scientists alongside Kazia Therapeutics. Initial studies had demonstrated that paxalisib, when paired with immunotherapy, prompts a unique molecular pathway. This pathway reprograms dormant cancer cells, rendering them visible to the immune system and rejuvenating immune cells to effectively combat the tumor.

Fresh preclinical findings were unveiled at the recent San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, highlighting synergistic effects observed when paxalisib was used in conjunction with the checkpoint inhibitor pembrolizumab and the poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor olaparib in models resistant to immunotherapy.

Kazia's CEO, Dr. John Friend, expressed great optimism regarding the trial’s potential, stating that this innovative dual approach could revolutionize the treatment landscape for women grappling with TNBC and other aggressive cancers. He emphasized the significance of this development in supporting women facing limited treatment options.

Alongside the primary objectives, the ABC-Pax trial will also explore a cutting-edge, non-invasive liquid biopsy platform developed by Professor Sudha Rao and her team. This platform enables real-time monitoring of cancer and immune cell behavior through participant blood samples. By frequently analyzing these samples, the researchers aim to track treatment efficacy and potentially redefine the standards of precision medicine.

Professor Rao reiterated the pressing need for such advancements, noting the drastic life expectancy challenges posed by TNBC, which currently lacks a definitive cure. The trial's holistic approach seeks to extend patient longevity and enhance their quality of life through targeted action against dormant cancer cells while simultaneously revitalizing the immune response.

As Kazia Therapeutics forges ahead with this groundbreaking initiative, the oncology community watches closely, hopeful that this pioneering trial will yield pivotal insights and success in combating advanced breast cancer. Continuous updates and methodologies from this study may set new benchmarks in clinical trials and patient care strategies moving forward.

About Kazia Therapeutics

Kazia Therapeutics Limited is an oncology-focused development entity headquartered in Sydney, Australia. The company is advancing its primary drug candidate, paxalisib, intended for addressing various brain cancers through multiple ongoing and forthcoming clinical trials. As a persistent advocate for transformative cancer therapies, Kazia is also innovating other drug candidates alongside their clinical development programs fostering potential breakthroughs against intractable cancers.