DelMar, MD Anderson partner to accelerate development of VAL-083 anti-cancer drug

VAL-083 is a small-molecule chemotherapeutic, which is indicated to treat glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most common and deadly cancer that starts within the brain.

Under the collaboration, MD Anderson will start a new phase II clinical study with VAL-083 in patients with GBM at first recurrence/progression, prior to Avastin (bevacizumab) exposure.

The eligible patients will have recurrent GBM defined by a high expression of MGMT, the DNA repair enzyme included in drug-resistance and poor patient results after the existing front-line chemotherapy.

DelMar chairman & CEO Jeffrey Bacha said: "We believe that VAL-083’s unique cytotoxic mechanism offers promise for GBM patients across the continuum of care as a potential superior alternative to currently available cytotoxic chemotherapies, especially for patients whose tumors exhibit a high-expression of MGMT."

The company will work with the scientists and clinicians at MD Anderson to accelerate its research in order to transform the treatment of patients whose cancers fail or are unlikely to respond to existing treatments.

In over 40 clinical trials, VAL-083 demonstrated clinical activity against several cancers including lung, brain, cervical, ovarian tumors and leukemia both as a single-agent and in combination with other treatments.

VAL-083 is approved in China to treat chronic myelogenous leukemia and lung cancer. It has also secured orphan drug designation in Europe and the US for the treatment of malignant gliomas.

Image: Glioblastoma multiforme is the most common and deadly form of brain cancer. Photo: courtesy of dream designs/FreeDigitalPhotos.net.