Noxopharm Ltd (ASX:NOX) and the University of New South Wales (UNSW) will present research from their ChromaTM pancreatic cancer program to an international audience, having been selected to feature at the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) Special Conference on Pancreatic Cancer.
Noxopharm and UNSW will present the research as a conference poster accompanied by a video presentation, showcasing Noxopharm’s proprietary drug candidates within the Chroma technology platform – which has demonstrated promising efficacy signals against pancreatic cancer.
NOX is testing these drug candidates in collaboration with UNSW with an innovative, state-of-the-art patient explant model that uses cancer tissues taken from pancreatic cancer patients during surgery.
This model is the first of its kind and was described as a ‘unique’ opportunity in researching potential treatments for pancreatic cancer in a recent publication in Scientific Reports, a highly regarded Nature journal that was the fifth most cited journal in the world last year.
Explant model much closer to “real-life”
“Our explant model enables us to not only grow the tumour cells by themselves, but also the surrounding scar-tissue ‘fortress’, which represents a much closer real-life situation than any other model and is advantageous in testing drug candidates,” UNSW lead pancreatic cancer researcher, Professor Phoebe Phillips said.
“Results using Noxopharm’s Chroma compounds in our explant model are looking promising, and we will continue to investigate whether these compounds can be translated to the clinic.
“We are pleased to be able to share our work with Noxopharm with such an eminent international audience.”
The AACR’s Special Conference on Pancreatic Cancer is a leading cancer forum that attracts approximately 500 global leaders in pancreatic cancer research and treatment and covers the latest cutting-edge advances in the field.
It will take place from September 13-16, 2022, in Boston, Massachusetts.
“It is very encouraging to have this abstract accepted by such a prestigious US conference, as it helps raise the international profile of Noxopharm and UNSW, demonstrates the value of the explant model, and shows the potential of our pre-clinical drug candidates,” Noxopharm CEO Dr Gisela Mautner said.
“Pancreatic cancer is highly aggressive, with low survival rates and one of the highest mortality rates among the major cancers.
“There is therefore an urgent need to develop more effective treatments, especially as so few currently exist.”