Drug development group Redx Pharma Plc (LON:REDX) said its flagship cancer treatment the Porcupine inhibitor has shown promise as part of a combination therapy to treat cancer.
Redx’s Porcupine inhibitor seemed to improve the immune system response of some cancer models when used in combination with an existing immunotherapy, anti-programmed cell death-1 (anti-PD-1)
Anti-PD-1 therapy activates the immune system to recognise and attack tumours.
Treatment with PD-1 inhibitors - also known as checkpoint inhibitors - has been heralded as a significant breakthrough in cancer treatment, however not all patients respond.
Redx’s combination therapy, using its Porcupine inhibitor in conjunction with the PD-1 has shown to significantly improve the number of tumour-fighting T-cells.
The Porcupine inhibitor has already demonstrated potential as a stand-alone therapy for difficult to treat cancers, such as pancreatic cancer.
Clinical trials for Porcupine as a standalone therapy are expected to start at the beginning of next year.
“We are very pleased that our new findings confirm that our lead cancer treatment, the Porcupine inhibitor RXC004, now also has a potentially crucial role in enhancing existing cancer immunotherapy treatments,” said chief executive Neil Murray.