Propanc Biopharma Inc (OTC:PPCB) CEO and executive chairman James Nathanielsz joined Proactive's Stephen Gunnion with more on the company's focus on developing a novel proenzyme therapy for treating and preventing metastatic cancer.
The treatment, known as PRP, targets metastatic cancer across various origins by converting cancer cells back to a benign state, thus causing them to die off naturally. Currently, PRP is advancing towards its first clinical study in patients with solid tumours, described as a phase 1B study, aiming to test the formulation at high dosages directly injected into the bloodstream.
Additionally, Nathanielsz highlighted a compassionate use study led by chief scientific officer Dr Julian Kenyon, which involved 46 patients treated with proenzymes via suppository. This study reported no severe side effects, with up to 19 patients significantly exceeding their life expectancy despite having failed conventional treatments.
Propanc Biopharma is also expanding its intellectual property portfolio, having recently secured a patent grant from the Canadian Intellectual Property Office. This is part of a broader strategy to safeguard its PRP formula, contributing to an extensive IP portfolio encompassing 87 patents and growing.
To fund its phase 1B study and future clinical developments, Propanc is exploring strategic investment opportunities, having raised $23 million to date and planning for a Series A financing round. Upcoming milestones include the commencement of the phase 1 study, followed by phase 2 studies targeting pancreatic and ovarian cancers, focusing on aggressive and rapidly spreading tumours.