Noxopharm (ASX:NOX) has decided to make its experimental anti-cancer drug, NOX66, available for the treatment of rare cancers in a formal clinical trial setting.
The company’s shares were last trading circa 20% higher on Wednesday, at $0.455.
‘Rare cancers’ by definition are those with an incidence of less than 6 per year per 100,000 population and involve 186 different cancer types.
Despite their very low incidence, collectively they account for about one-quarter to one-fifth of all cancer diagnoses, and about 40% of all cancer deaths.
Converting Noxopharm’s current compassionate use scheme into a formal clinical study could be beneficial since the company does not own the clinical data from the compassionate use scheme.
Noxopharm has decided to put this informal use of NOX66 onto a formal clinical trial footing and will own the clinical data which can be used to extend the drug’s approval range.
NOX66 is as a drug that makes existing chemotherapies and radiotherapy work more effectively across a broad spectrum of different cancer types.
This rare cancer trial is designed to add to Noxopharm’s storehouse of experience in the range of cancers where NOX66 is expected to provide a survival benefit.
The study will be conducted at a number of sites around Australia and New Zealand with details of the sites to be made available shortly.