Melbourne, Australia (Press Release) - Patrys Limited (ASX:PAB), a clin­i­cal stage bio­technology com­pany has today announced that it is initiating an investigator-sponsored trial (IST) eval­u­ating the effectiveness of Patrys’ lead anti-cancer drug PAT-SM6 in com­bi­na­tion with car­filz­o­mib, in patients with re­lapsed and refractory multiple myeloma (MM). The trial will be headed by Professor Dr. Hermann Einsele, Director of the Department of Medicine II, University of Würzburg, Germany, and is being funded by Onyx Pharma­ceu­ti­cals, Inc., an Amgen sub­sid­i­ary.

Both clin­i­cal and pre­clin­i­cal studies of PAT-SM6 conducted to date have shown evi­dence of activity in pa­tients with re­lapsed and refractory MM. One of the notable features of PAT-SM6, being dem­onstrated in the cur­rently-ongoing Phase I/IIa clin­i­cal trial, is the lack of serious side-effects in treated patients. This feature of PAT-SM6 may allow it to be safely admin­istered in com­bi­na­tion with car­filz­o­mib and may have the poten­tial to im­prove current treat­ments for MM. Carfilzomib is a pro­te­a­some inhibitor owned by Onyx, and is marketed in the United States (U.S.) under the brand name Kyprolis® (car­filz­o­mib) for Injection. Onyx will provide car­filz­o­mib study drug for the trial.

Patrys CEO, Dr. Marie Roskrow, said: “The oppor­tu­ni­ty to ini­ti­ate an IST of PAT-SM6 in com­bi­na­tion with Onyx’s car­filz­o­mib is a very exciting and major step forward for Patrys as it provides further external val­i­da­tion of our PAT-SM6 pro­gramme.”

Internationally recognised as a leading expert in blood cancers, Professor Dr. Hermann Einsele said: “Given the promising results we are seeing in the current Patrys’ Phase I/IIa MM trial, we are delighted to have the oppor­tu­ni­ty to further the clin­i­cal devel­op­ment of Patrys’ lead prod­uct by combining it with car­filz­o­mib. We are very appreciative to Onyx for funding this IST and for strongly sup­porting the devel­op­ment of ther­a­pies for patients with re­lapsed and refractory MM.”

Source: Patrys.