DelMar Pharmaceuticals was founded in 2010 to rapidly develop and commercialize proven cancer therapies in new indications where patients have developed resistance to the currently available therapies. The company is developing new drug candidates targeting orphan cancer indications. VAL-083 is the first product of the company that benefits from the investment of more than $50 million by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in the US. VAL-083 is approved as a cancer chemotherapeutic in China for the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia and solid tumors, including lung cancer.

On October 29, 2012, DelMar collaborated with China-based Guangxi Wuzhou Pharmaceutical for the development of VAL-083 which is also known as "DAG for injection". Guangxi Wuzhou is licensed by the Chinese State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) to manufacture and sell VAL-083 in China. BioSpectrum talks to Mr Jeffery Bacha, president and CEO, DelMar Pharmaceuticals, about this latest development and company's expansion in China.

Please tell us about your collaboration with Guangxi Wuzhou and how both will contribute towards this partnership?
The strategic collaboration between DelMar Pharma and Guangxi Wuzhou Pharmaceutical will benefit both partners. We will use new data being developed through DelMar's clinical programs to expand the market in China where VAL-083 is currently approved as a cancer chemotherapy for the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and lung cancer.

We will work together to seek regulatory approval for the drug in multiple indications on a global basis, including new indications such as brain cancer and other solid tumors. DelMar gains an exclusive supply, development and commercialization arrangement with the only current manufacture of VAL-083 drug product in the world. We will work together to ensure that the product is manufactured, and meets product specifications to the highest global standard, including compliance with cGMP regulations of the US FDA, EMEA in Europe and SFDA in China.

The collaboration also provides DelMar with the opportunity to benefit patients, and capture near-term revenue through commercial activities in the Chinese market. We will also use this initial collaboration as the basis upon which to explore further opportunities to work together outside of China for VAL-083 and potentially other products.