Starpharma drug targets cancer more effectively

Singapore: Australia-based Starpharma reported significant tumor-targeting results with its proprietary dendrimer-docetaxel formulation. In recent animal studies Starpharma's docetaxel formulation resulted in levels of the cancer drug docetaxel in tumour tissue more than 40 times greater than levels seen with the conventional formulation of docetaxel (Taxotere).

This far greater accumulation of the drug in the tumour tissue as compared to the current Taxotere formulation is evidence of the significant tumour-targeting effect of Starpharma's dendrimer formulation.

Docetaxel is a leading chemotherapy drug used to treat a wide range of tumours including breast, lung and prostate. The original formulation is commercially registered as Taxotere and marketed by Sanofi aventis with sales in excess of $1 billion in 2011.

Starpharma's proprietary formulation, which the company plans to take into the clinic in 2013, has demonstrated improved tumour targeting, significantly improved efficacy in a breast cancer model, extended half-life, water-soluble formulation (removing the need for certain toxic excipients).

Starpharma's dendrimer-docetaxel formulation also showed a 60 fold increase in the plasma half-life compared to Taxotere. A lengthened half-life (or how long it lasts in the blood) enables sustained exposure of the chemotherapy drug to the tumour tissue which helps to fight the cancer more effectively.