Evgen Pharma PLC (AIM:EVG), a clinical-stage drug development firm, and Dr Marjolein Geurts, a neuro-oncologist at Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, have formally begun a collaborative research project focused on glioblastoma, a particularly aggressive form of brain cancer.
Supported by a grant from the KWF Dutch Cancer Society, the €1.1 million project aims to explore the potential of Evgen's sulforaphane-based medicine, SFX-01.
Initial phases of the research will scrutinise the efficacy of SFX-01 in pre-clinical models of glioblastoma. This will set the stage for a subsequent clinical Investigator Sponsored Study (ISS), designed to assess the drug's interaction with molecular targets in human brain tumours.
To bolster the research team, a dedicated PhD student, funded by the grant, will join the project in early November.
Operating under the guidance of Dr Geurts, the project will take place over three years. During this period, the team will continuously generate data to further understanding of this complex disease.
While glioblastoma is a rare disease, its incidence is on the rise, partly due to advancements in diagnostic techniques and an ageing population. Current treatment protocols, which include surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, offer limited efficacy.
Patient survival rates post-diagnosis range between one and three years, underscoring the critical need for innovative therapeutic approaches.
Evgen chief executive Huw Jones told investors: "Commencing this study is a significant step in determining the potential of SFX-01 as a therapeutic option for glioblastoma patients.
"Previous preclinical studies with SFX-01 on glioblastoma have been striking so we look forward to this further validation and entry into the clinic in due course."