Starpharma (ASX:SPL) has announced the presentation of data that it says demonstrate the benefits of combining its DEP irinotecan with other important classes of anti-cancer therapies, including immuno-oncology (IO) agents, in models of human colorectal cancer.
The data will be presented in Boston at the International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics, co-hosted by the American Association of Cancer Research, the National Cancer Institute and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer.
This poster presentation is one of three by Starpharma at the conference showcasing multiple DEP programs, including DEP irinotecan and Starpharma's radiotheranostic, DEP HER2-zirconium.
This DEP irinotecan combination poster builds on Starpharma's recently released positive clinical data on DEP irinotecan in advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) and advanced platinum-resistant ovarian cancer.
Starpharma said the DEP irinotecan combination data to be presented show it improves the anti-tumour activity of an IO agent in the same class as MSD's KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab), including in models of CRC that respond poorly to IO agents.
DEP irinotecan in combination with the IO agent enhanced anti-tumour responses compared to the IO agent alone in a CRC model that is only moderately responsive to the IO agent, said the company, adding the combination also resulted in complete tumour regression and prolonged survival compared to the IO agent alone in this CRC model.
In another model of CRC that was not responsive to the IO agent alone, the antitumour effects of the combination of DEP irinotecan and the IO agent were enhanced when compared with either agent alone.
