Race Oncology Ltd (AX:RAC) is currently focused on the development of bisantrene, which had been the subject of over 40 clinical trials in the 1980s and 1990s as part of Lederle’s search for a safer anthracycline (a widely used class of chemotherapeutics that is associated with cardiotoxicity). Despite positive efficacy data across a variety of cancers, especially AML (it was even approved for the treatment of AML in France in 1990 but never commercialised), development stopped after Lederle was sold to Wyeth and then Wyeth was sold to Pfizer (NYSE:PFE). Race will be developing bisantrene for relapsed/refractory AML and expects to initiate a pivotal trial for approval in the US around the end of 2018.
Efficacy indicated in relapsed/refractory AML
Bisantrene had been investigated in trials covering a plethora of different cancers and some efficacy had been indicated in leukaemias and lymphomas, as well as breast and ovarian cancer. AML in particular was especially compelling. In five studies totalling 85 heavily pretreated patients, bisantrene demonstrated a 48% complete response rate. Earlier studies also indicated that the cardiotoxicity typically seen with anthracyclines was greatly reduced with bisantrene.
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