Good results for local drugmakers
THREE Western Australian-listed pharmaceutical players have all reported successful test results for their respective products.
Solbec Pharmaceuticals, Prima Bio Med and EqiTX have announced positive results from their research into cancer prevention in the case of the first two and pain relief in the case of the third.
Solbec has received university study data showing that its SBP002 drug kills Mesothelioma tumours and positively activates the immune system.
Another plus from the research was toxicity of the drug on the immune system was minimal when compared to other drugs used in combinational immunotherapy for the effective treatment of the asbestos-related disease.
SBP002 is derived from a weed called Devil’s Apple and is the company’s lead compound.
Queensland stockmen’s lore had it that rubbing the sap of the weed onto skin cancers caused them to shrink and there have been several studies into the plant’s anti-cancer applications since.
Most recent studies undertaken by the University of WA’s Department of Medicine Tumour Immunology Group confirm SBP002 is able to positively activate the immune system.
EqiTX’s Melbourne-based subsidiary ZingoTX has demonstrated potential for its Gingerol lead compounds for the treatment of neuropathic pain.
Its Gingerol products are derived from ginger.
Neuropathic pain is a severe condition that is difficult to alleviate with current pain medication and is associated with a number of disorders including diabetes, cancer, stroke, multiple sclerosis, amputation and shingles.
The University of Queensland has been conducting animal testing studies into Gingerol’s efficacy.
University of Queensland School of Pharmacy Professor Maree Smith said the preliminary results had indicated that the gingerol compounds appeared to decrease neuropathic pain after a single administration.
Having demonstrated that the gingerol compounds are active against neuropathic pain, the company aims to determine what compounds have the optimal activity.
Prima Bio Med has also announced that antibodies being developed by its subsidiary Oncomab have been shown to prevent the formation of solid tumours in a mouse model of human colon cancer.
The research was performed by scientists at the Austin Research Institute, which has licensed the anti-Cripto antibodies to Oncomab. The antibodies target the cancer protein Cripto.
Not only did the antibodies prevent the appearance of new tumours, they also slowed the growth of established tumours by 80 per cent.
Project chief scientist Pei Xiang Xing said the research findings showed antibodies targeting Cripto could prove to have therapeutic value for patients with a variety of cancers.
"The next step will be to adapt the technology for its use in clinical trials," Dr Xing said.
He said the company was on track to commence a phase one clinical trial in 2006.
