The company has applied its dendrimer technology to reformulate docetaxel formulation and aims to conduct further pre-clinical studies.
Docetaxel reformulated with a suite of Starpharma’s dendrimers showed a 2000 to 8000-fold improvement in water solubility, potentially allowing for the development of an improved formulation of this cancer drug.
Starpharma said the increased water solubility will allow the development of a docetaxel formulation without the pre-medication with high doses of cortisone and would avoid the need for inclusion.
Starpharma reformulated docetaxel is compared to water-soluble formulations of paclitaxel (a very similar molecule to docetaxel), Abraxane.
CEO Jackie Fairley said the success seen with Abraxane highlights the opportunity of reformulated proprietary chemotherapy agents which can result in improved patient outcomes, product sales, and extended commercial life through new intellectual property filings.
Starpharma’s internal program will run in parallel with its drug-delivery partnering program which includes GSK and Lilly.
The company has also filed a new patent application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office incorporating recent Docetaxel data.