Starpharma technology improves anti-cancer drug 40-fold

Animal trials of Starpharma's (ASX:SPL) dendrimer-docetaxel chemotherapy product show the formulation is potentially far more effective at targeting tumours than the conventional formula.

Starpharma said a comparative study detected docetaxel levels more than 40 times greater in the tumour tissue of animals treated with Starpharma's candidate, compared to those given Taxotere, the original formulation.

Previous pre-clinical trials have shown that dendrimer-docetaxel lasts in the blood up to 60 times longer than Taxotere.

Starpharma CEO Dr Jackie Fairley said these findings lend strong support both to the efficacy of dendrimer-docetaxel, and to the underlying technology of using dendrimer cells to deliver chemotherapeutic agents.

This is significant in light of Starpharma's efforts to extend its dendrimer platform to more chemotherapeutic drugs, and to additional classes of drugs.

Dendrimer-docetaxel has already performed well in animal models of breast cancer.

Besides the potential improved tumour targeting and extended half-life, dendrimer-docetaxel also has the advantage of being water-soluble.

Pending further pre-clinical studies, Starpharma plans to conduct its first human trial for the candidate in 2013.

Taxotere was developed by Rhône-Poulenc, which is now part of Sanofi-Aventis. The company recorded sales from the drug of over $1 billion in 2011. It has been off-patent in Europe since 2010.

Starpharma (ASX:SPL) shares climbed nearly 10% after the results were announced on Monday, to reach $1.63 as of 4.30pm on Monday.