11th Jun 2018 11:33
LONDON (Alliance News) - Evgen Pharma PLC said Monday its STEM trial showed "early signs of anti-tumour activity" in breast cancer patients.
STEM is the company's study of SFX-01 in the treatment of breast cancer. The company said that the first 20 patients have completed the phase II clinical trial in advanced breast cancer showing good results.
STEM patients undergo a hormone therapy alongside the use of SFX-01, the company's lead compound, which is used to target cancer stem cells in early and metastatic breast cancers.
Sacha Howell, chief medical advisor of the company, believes that SFX-01 is "proving to be well tolerated" and showing "early signs of anti-tumour activity".
The company said that four patients had their disease stabilised, meaning that it stopped progressing throughout the 24 weeks duration of the trial.
"Of these four patients, one also had a partial response which is a reduction in tumour size of at least 30% on one scan," Evgen added.
STEM will include up to 60 patients across the UK, Belgium, Spain and France.
Chief Executive Officer Steve Franklin said: "This initial data is promising. We can add that two of the first 20 patients in the trial have been on SFX-01 for approximately one year - six months in the trial and a further six months in the compassionate use programme.
"One of these patients remains on the drug to this day. This extended treatment makes an important contribution to our understanding of the product's longer-term tolerability and safety and highlights its potential patient benefit."
The company said the interim update might differ from the final results of the study.
Evgen shares were trading 15% lower at 21.45 pence each.
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