PharmAust signs up U-Vet for Phase II cancer trial

PharmAust has finalised contractual arrangements with the University of Melbourne’s U-Vet Werribee Animal Hospital for the Phase II clinical trials into the effectiveness of its Monepantel anti-cancer drug in dogs.

Management said recruitment of canine patients will now commence at U-Vet, one of Australia’s leading veterinary hospitals, to formally test the drug in its new, better-tasting and high-dose tablet formulation.

The trial will be overseen by Dr Claire Cannon, the Head of Small Animal Medicine and Oncology at U-Vet.

Dr Cannon will also oversee recruitment at other nominated sites within Australia, which will enable the trial to be completed faster.

Acceptance for these other sites to participate in the trial is being finalised with appropriate agreements, according to the company.

The Phase II trial will initially study the effectiveness of the new Monepantel tablet in dogs suffering from B cell lymphoma – the most common canine cancer.

This trial is expected to verify the success observed in treating canine lymphoma from an earlier short-term clinical study using the old liquid formulation that had poor palatability.

The company will then broaden the trial base to test for low dose maintenance of progression free survival and efficacy in other cancers.

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