Starpharma (ASX:SPL, OTCQX:SPHRY) today announced that AstraZeneca (LSE/STO/NYSE:AZN) has commenced a phase 1 clinical trial of AZD0466 (DEP ® Bcl2/xL conjugate) and the first patient has been successfully dosed. The trial will recruit patients with a range of cancers and will be conducted at 4-5 US sites.

The development of AZD0466, is being progressed under a multi-product license whereby Starpharma is eligible to receive development, launch and sales milestones of up to US$124 million, plus tiered royalties on net sales. The first dose of AZD0466 administered in the phase 1 trial has triggered a milestone payment to Starpharma of US$3 million. AstraZeneca also funds the development costs of DEP ® AstraZeneca products under the license.

AstraZeneca describes AZD0466 as having the potential to be a ‘best-in-class’ agent in this field with a broad opportunity in solid and haematological tumours (blood cancers) due to its ability to target both Bcl2 and Bcl/xL 1.

Bcl2 is a clinically validated oncology target with the Bcl2 inhibitor, venetoclax (Venclexta™ – AbbVie/Genentech), being approved by the US FDA in 2016 with estimated peak global sales projected to be between US$2-3 billion 2.

Dr Jackie Fairley, Starpharma CEO, commented: “It is really exciting to achieve this important milestone both for our collaboration with AstraZeneca and for Starpharma’s DEP ® platform. This is our first partnered DEP ® product to enter the clinic, alongside our three internal DEP ® products, DEP ® docetaxel, DEP ® cabazitaxel and DEP ® irinotecan. AZD0466 is a great illustration of the benefits that can be created for novel agents using Starpharma’s DEP ® platform and we look forward to further updates as the trial progresses.”

About Starpharma

Starpharma Holdings Limited (ASX:SPL, OTCQX:SPHRY), located in Melbourne Australia, is an ASX 300 company and is a world leader in the development of dendrimer products for pharmaceutical, life science and other applications.

1 3rd AstraZeneca-MedImmune-CRUK Cambridge Centre Symposium 2017 presentation