Bionomics (ASX: BNO, ADR: BMICY) has secured an important patent in the U.S. covering its cancer drug BNC105, which is currently in trials for the treatment of ovarian and kidney cancer.
The company has already been granted patents covering the treatment in other major pharmaceutical markets, including Australia and New Zealand.
The patent, which is valid for 20 years to February 2027, is at the centre of the BNC105 patent portfolio, providing a substantial value-add for the BNC105 program and strengthening Bionomics’ partnering data package.
BNC105 patents have been filed in each of the major pharmaceutical markets, and Bionomics has also filed a patent application for the manufacture of BNC105.
Bionomics recently began a phase I/II trial of BNC105 in ovarian cancer across sites in Australia, New Zealand and the U.S. following strong preclinical data showing synergy with platinum-based agents.
BNC105 is also undergoing evaluation in a phase II U.S. multicentre trial in combination with mTOR inhibitor (Afinitor) in metastatic renal cell carcinoma, a form of kidney cancer.
Both ovarian cancer and kidney cancer represent substantial target markets for Bionomics.
In 2010 there were an estimated 21,880 new cases and 13,850 deaths from ovarian cancer in the U.S, while over 100,000 people die of kidney cancer in the world each year.
Around $2.2 billion per annum is spent in the U.S. treating ovarian cancer, while the U.S. renal cancer market is estimated at around US$2.5 billion.
BNC105 – “Best in Class”
BNC105 has demonstrated multiple benefits in the treatment of cancer including working rapidly to shut down tumour blood vessels, with the tumour less likely to escape treatment.
By selectively shutting down tumour blood vessels, BNC105 rapidly inhibits tumour growth.
It has also shown the ability to enhance the effectiveness of other cancer treatments.
The drug has multiple cancer targets with the potential to extend trials of the drug to breast cancer and pancreatic tumours.
Bionomics is also investigating a trial of BNC105 in the treatment of mesothelioma in Australia.
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that develops from transformed cells originating in the mesothelium, the protective lining that covers many of the internal organs of the body. It is usually caused by exposure to asbestos.
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