SYDNEY, March 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Kazia Therapeutics
Limited (ASX: KZA; NASDAQ: KZIA), an Australian oncology-focused
biotechnology company, is pleased to announce that it has entered
into an exclusive worldwide license agreement with Oasmia
Pharmaceutical AB (STO: OASM), an innovation-focused specialty
pharmaceutical company, for Cantrixil (TRX-E-002-1), a
clinical-stage, first-in-class drug candidate under development for
the treatment of ovarian cancer.
Key Points
- Oasmia will assume worldwide exclusive rights to develop and
commercialise Cantrixil for all indications, with an initial focus
on ovarian cancer
- Under the terms of the agreement, Oasmia will make an upfront
payment of
US$ 4 million to Kazia, with
contingent milestone payments of up to US$
42 million, and double-digit royalties on commercial
sales
- Oasmia is an innovative specialty pharmaceutical company, based
in Stockholm, Sweden. Its lead
product, Apealea® (paclitaxel micellar), is approved in
Europe for adult patients with
first relapse of platinum-sensitive epithelial ovarian cancer,
primary peritoneal cancer, and fallopian tube cancer, and is in
late-stage clinical development in the US
- Oasmia expects to commence a Phase II study of Cantrixil in
ovarian cancer in 2022
Kazia CEO, Dr James Garner,
commented, "Oasmia possesses deep expertise in the field of ovarian
cancer, and also brings to Cantrixil a highly commercial focus,
world-class formulation capabilities, and an extensive network of
clinician relationships in Europe
and the US. This transaction follows the release of very
encouraging top-line data from the phase I study of Cantrixil late
last year. Our strategy has been to seek a partner for Cantrixil's
further development, and we are delighted to now pass the baton to
the Oasmia team."
Dr François Martelet, CEO of Oasmia, added, "Cantrixil is an
exciting addition to Oasmia's oncology pipeline and builds on our
development expertise in ovarian cancer. Expanding Oasmia's
portfolio of therapies and technologies is a key pillar of our
transformation strategy. Acquiring rights to Cantrixil, which has
established clinical proof of concept, is a major step forward in
executing this strategy, and we will continue to leverage our
development and partnering expertise to build our oncology
pipeline."
Cantrixil (TRX-E-002-1)
Cantrixil is a proprietary formulation of the potent and
selective third-generation benzopyran, TRX-E-002-1. It targets the
entire spectrum of cancer cells, including chemotherapy-resistant
tumour-initiating cells ('cancer stem cells') that are thought to
be responsible for disease relapse.
In December 2020, Kazia announced
top-line results of a Phase I open-label study (NCT02903771)
conducted at sites in the US and Australia, covering both monotherapy and
combination therapy in patients with persistent or recurrent
ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer. The Phase I
study met its primary endpoints, and full data are expected to be
published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal during CY2021.
Cantrixil was granted orphan designation for ovarian cancer by
the US FDA in April 2015.
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SOURCE Kazia Therapeutics Ltd