This Combination Therapy Could Help Change Cancer Treatment - Take A Deeper Look Into Allarity Therapeutics' Trial

Rhea-AI Summary

Allarity Therapeutics (NASDAQ:ALLR) has initiated Phase 1b of its clinical trial, dosing the first patient to assess the combination therapy of stenoparib and dovitinib for advanced solid tumors, particularly ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer remains a critical health issue, affecting 1 in 78 women, with over 19,000 diagnoses expected in 2023. The ovarian cancer treatment market is projected to grow from $3.2 billion in 2022 to $6.36 billion by 2027.

The trial aims to determine the maximum tolerated doses of both drugs and evaluate their combined therapeutic potential. Notably, this therapy could provide a promising alternative to traditional chemotherapy, addressing a significant need in cancer treatment.

Positive

• Initiated Phase 1b clinical trial for stenoparib and dovitinib.
• Aims to evaluate combination therapy for advanced solid tumors, addressing high unmet medical need.
• Potential to offer chemotherapy-free treatment options for ovarian cancer patients.

Negative

• None.

CAMBRIDGE, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 17, 2023 / Allarity Therapeutics (NASDAQ:ALLR) dosed its first patient in Phase 1b of its clinical trial for the novel combination therapy of two drugs, stenoparib and dovitinib. The company is evaluating the safety, dosing, and potential therapeutic benefit of this combination therapy on advanced solid tumors, including ovarian cancer.

One in 78 women will reportedly develop ovarian cancer during their lifetime, though the disease normally affects older women. It is expected that over 19,000 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2023, and this form of cancer is the fifth most common cause of cancer deaths for women. The ovarian cancer treatment market was worth $3.2 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach $6.36 billion by 2027, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.4% during the forecast period. However, there continues to be a need for new and more effective treatments for ovarian cancer.

Both stenoparib and dovitinib have shown promising results for cancer treatment in the past. Stenoparib is a poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitor, which blocks the repair of single-stranded DNA within cancerous cells. Dovitinib is a pan-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) with an anti-angiogenic activity that cuts off the blood supply to the cancerous region, resulting in an increase in tumor DNA damage, the repair of which can then be blocked by Stenoparib. Now, Allarity Therapeutics is exploring the potential for a combination therapy that uses these two drugs to tackle solid tumors.

A Combination That Could Help Change Cancer Treatment

Dr. Mansoor Raza Mirza, a leading expert in oncology and Chief Oncologist in the Department of Oncology at Copenhagen University Hospital, is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of Allarity. In a recent interview, he shared his excitement in following the results of this trial. Though combination therapy is not unusual, according to Dr. Mirza, this unique combination could be particularly efficacious and serve a major unmet need in cancer patients. The science and rationale supporting this combination therapy are strong, and Dr. Mirza is looking forward to the clinical evidence forthcoming from the trial.

The first stage of the trial will dose patients with stenoparib twice daily to examine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of the drug in patients with advanced solid tumors. The second stage of the trial will determine the MTD of dovitinib when given in conjunction with the MTD of stenoparib. The trial will also use Allarity Therapeutics' DRP companion diagnostics to retrospectively identify responders to the treatment. The study is also designed to assess early signals of a therapeutic benefit of the combination of drugs.

According to Dr. Mirza, this combination has the potential to be particularly efficacious, and the study will be looking at whether these drugs cause synthetic lethality for the tumor. If these trials are safe and effective, then there is the potential for holding comparative trials that measure this combination therapy against traditional treatments like chemotherapy, which can be highly toxic.

Dr. Mirza stated, "In the battle against cancer, we must relentlessly seek innovative and effective therapies. New unique combination therapies have the potential to significantly alter the landscape of cancer treatment. The combination study of stenoparib and dovitinib is interesting because of a variety of reasons, but one I personally find very appealing with such novel combinations is that they could offer a chemotherapy-free treatment option, for example, in our treatment of ovarian cancer patients. Avoiding the side effects typically associated with chemotherapy would be a very welcomed treatment option."

The Principal Investigator for Allarity's Phase 1b study, Kathleen N. Moore, MD, MS, commented: "I look forward to working with patients and the clinical team at Allarity to determine if the particular combination of dovitinib and stenoparib can provide synergistic therapeutic benefits and improve outcomes for patients, including those with ovarian cancer." Dr. Moore is a Gynecologic Oncology faculty member at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine and Associate Director of Clinical Research at the Stephenson Cancer Center.

Allarity Therapeutics also has two ongoing, phase two monotherapy trials for its drugs Dovinitinb and Stenoparib. The company anticipates interim data readouts from these trials to come in late 2023. Other companies investigating treatments for hard-to-treat cancers include Soligenix and Salarius Pharmaceuticals.

To learn more about what Allarity Therapeutics is doing to battle cancer and look to realize truly personalized cancer care, visit its website.

Featured photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

US investor contact:

Thomas Jensen
investorrelations@allarity.com
+45 22930837

EU investor contact:

Thomas Pedersen
tsp@carrotize.com
+45 60629390

SOURCE: Allarity Therapeutics

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FAQ

What is the purpose of Allarity Therapeutics' Phase 1b trial involving ALLR?

The Phase 1b trial aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the drug combination stenoparib and dovitinib for treating advanced solid tumors, including ovarian cancer.

What are the expected outcomes of Allarity's trial for ALLR?

The trial seeks to determine the maximum tolerated doses of stenoparib and dovitinib and assess potential therapeutic benefits, particularly compared to traditional chemotherapy.

How significant is the ovarian cancer market for Allarity Therapeutics?

The ovarian cancer treatment market was valued at $3.2 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow to $6.36 billion by 2027, indicating strong demand for new therapies.

What are the main treatments being tested in the trial for ALLR?

The trial is testing the combination of stenoparib, a PARP inhibitor, and dovitinib, a pan-tyrosine kinase inhibitor, to explore their synergistic effects on advanced solid tumors.

What expert opinions support Allarity Therapeutics' trial?

Experts like Dr. Mansoor Raza Mirza suggest the combination therapy could fulfill a major unmet need in cancer treatment and provide a safer alternative to chemotherapy.