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Kazia Therapeutics Reports Early Conclusion of Clinical Trial After Reaching Primary Endpoint

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Kazia Therapeutics Limited announces positive results from a Phase I trial combining paxalisib with radiation therapy for treating patients with PI3K pathway mutation brain metastases. The study shows promising safety and clinical activity, with the primary endpoint achieved.
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The early conclusion of the Phase I trial for paxalisib in conjunction with radiation therapy is a significant development in the treatment of brain metastases with PI3K pathway mutations. The drug's dual inhibition of PI3K/mTOR is a targeted approach that can disrupt key signaling pathways involved in tumor growth and survival. The maximal tolerated dose (MTD) identified provides a benchmark for safe dosage levels in future studies and treatments.

From a clinical perspective, the observed promising signs of clinical activity across all nine evaluable patients in Part I and the positive safety profile, suggest that paxalisib could potentially improve therapeutic outcomes in a patient population with limited treatment options. The success in reaching the primary endpoint of the study further underscores the potential efficacy of this combination therapy. However, it is essential to consider that these results are preliminary and from a small patient cohort. Larger, controlled studies will be necessary to confirm the benefits and to better understand the long-term implications of this treatment.

The announcement by Kazia Therapeutics indicates a potentially transformative development in the field of oncology, particularly for patients with PI3K pathway mutation brain metastases. The early conclusion of the trial due to positive findings is not common and suggests a strong signal of efficacy and safety. The MTD of 45mg daily of paxalisib combined with radiation therapy sets a precedent for subsequent clinical trials and may accelerate the development pipeline for Kazia Therapeutics.

It is important to scrutinize the data once fully published, as the statistical significance, durability of response and comparison with current standard-of-care treatments will be crucial in assessing the true impact of paxalisib. For stakeholders, including investors and patients, these developments could represent a significant advancement, but investment in the development of paxalisib will likely increase as the drug progresses through the clinical trial phases. This could influence the company's financials and stock performance in both the short and long term.

The positive outcome of this early-stage clinical trial could have immediate implications for Kazia Therapeutics' valuation and investor sentiment. The biotechnology sector is highly sensitive to clinical trial results and promising data can lead to increased investor confidence and capital inflow, potentially driving up stock prices. However, investors should consider the risks associated with the development stage of the drug, regulatory hurdles and the scalability of production upon potential approval.

In the long term, if paxalisib is successfully developed and approved, it could capture a significant market share in the treatment of brain metastases, given the current unmet medical need. This could lead to substantial revenue growth for Kazia Therapeutics. Nevertheless, investors should also be aware of the competitive landscape and the possibility of other emerging treatments that could affect the market dynamics.

Paxalisib plus Radiotherapy Data Shows Promise for Treating Patients with PI3K Pathway Mutation Brain Metastases

SYDNEY, Feb. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Kazia Therapeutics Limited (NASDAQ: KZIA), a biotechnology company specializing in oncology, today announced the early conclusion based on positive safety and promising clinical response findings observed to date of an important two-part Phase I trial. This investigator-initiated trial evaluated the use of paxalisib (an oral PI3K/mTOR dual inhibitor) with radiation therapy for the treatment of patients with PI3K pathway mutation brain metastases from solid tumors.

Part I of the study established the maximal tolerated dose (MTD) of paxalisib in combination with radiation therapy, while also demonstrating promising signs of clinical activity in all nine evaluable patients. Part II was a follow-on expansion cohort to further evaluate safety and efficacy of the MTD (45mg daily) combined with radiation therapy in up to 12 additional patients.

After reviewing the Part II patient data generated to date, the three lead investigators have determined that the primary endpoint of the study has been reached. In addition, the investigators continued to observe encouraging signs of clinical response in patients in the expansion cohort. Detailed findings from Part II of this study are slated for submission and presentation at a forthcoming global scientific meeting, where they will contribute to the ongoing conversation about treatment options for patients with these complex brain metastases.

Kazia's CEO, Dr. John Friend, shared his enthusiasm: "We are extremely excited about these findings, which include not only encouraging safety data but also some promising efficacy signals for paxalisib in combination with radiation therapy. We are now preparing to engage with the Food and Drug Administration to discuss the data and seek guidance on the conduct of a pivotal registration study, with the goal of rapidly progressing paxalisib's development to potentially provide a more effective treatment option for patients with brain metastases."

Previous research by Dr. Jonathan Yang, Director of Metastatic Disease and Developmental Therapeutics, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Washington School of Medicine, and others, has shown that activation of the PI3K pathway is common in brain metastases. Moreover, PI3K pathway activation appears to result in tumor resistance to radiotherapy, which supports the rationale for evaluating paxalisib with radiotherapy in order to potentially sensitize the tumor cells to radiotherapy and achieve better disease control. Dr. Yang presented the Part I data at the 2022 Annual Conference on CNS Clinical Trials and Brain Metastases, jointly organized by the Society for Neuro-Oncology and the American Society for Clinical Oncology, held in Toronto, Canada.

Last year, paxalisib was awarded Fast Track Designation (FTD) on the basis of the Part I clinical data by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of solid tumor brain metastases harboring PI3K pathway mutations in combination with radiation therapy.

Approximately 200,000 cancer patients develop brain metastases in the United States each year. Radiotherapy is the mainstay of treatment for brain metastases, and generally consists of either stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) or whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) or some combination thereof. The efficacy in patients who receive WBRT differs according to the type of tumor and the number and volume of brain metastases, but several recent publications cite overall response rates of 20-45%. The increasing incidence of brain metastasis and the low response rates to existing treatments underscores the need for new treatment options.

About Kazia Therapeutics Limited

Kazia Therapeutics Limited (NASDAQ: KZIA) is an oncology-focused drug development company, based in Sydney, Australia.

Our lead program is paxalisib, an investigational brain-penetrant inhibitor of the PI3K / Akt / mTOR pathway, which is being developed to treat multiple forms of brain cancer. Licensed from Genentech in late 2016, paxalisib is or has been the subject of ten clinical trials in this disease. A completed Phase 2 study in glioblastoma reported early signals of clinical activity in 2021, and a pivotal study in glioblastoma, GBM AGILE, is ongoing, with final data expected in 1H2024. Other clinical trials are ongoing in brain metastases, diffuse midline gliomas, and primary CNS lymphoma, with several of these having reported encouraging interim data.

Paxalisib was granted Orphan Drug Designation for glioblastoma by the FDA in February 2018, and FTD for glioblastoma by the FDA in August 2020. Paxalisib was also granted FTD in July 2023 for the treatment of solid tumour brain metastases harboring PI3K pathway mutations in combination with radiation therapy. In addition, paxalisib was granted Rare Pediatric Disease Designation and Orphan Drug Designation by the FDA for diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma in August 2020, and for atypical teratoid / rhabdoid tumours in June 2022 and July 2022, respectively.

Kazia is also developing EVT801, a small-molecule inhibitor of VEGFR3, which was licensed from Evotec SE in April 2021. Preclinical data has shown EVT801 to be active against a broad range of tumour types and has provided evidence of synergy with immuno-oncology agents. A Phase I study is ongoing and preliminary data is anticipated in CY2024.

For more information, please visit www.kaziatherapeutics.com or follow us on Twitter @KaziaTx.

Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement may contain forward-looking statements, which can generally be identified as such by the use of words such as "may," "will," "estimate," "future," "forward," "anticipate," or other similar words. Any statement describing Kazia's future plans, strategies, intentions, expectations, objectives, goals or prospects, and other statements that are not historical facts, are also forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements regarding: the timing for results and data related to Kazia's clinical and preclinical trials and investigator-initiated trials of Kazia's product candidates, and Kazia's strategy and plans with respect to its programs, including paxalisib and EVT801. Such statements are based on Kazia's current expectations and projections about future events and future trends affecting its business and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements, including risks and uncertainties: associated with clinical and preclinical trials and product development, related to regulatory approvals, and related to the impact of global economic conditions. These and other risks and uncertainties are described more fully in Kazia's Annual Report, filed on form 20-F with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and in subsequent filings with the SEC. Kazia undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required under applicable law. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this announcement.

This announcement was authorized for release by Dr John Friend, CEO.

Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kazia-therapeutics-reports-early-conclusion-of-clinical-trial-after-reaching-primary-endpoint-302067134.html

SOURCE Kazia Therapeutics Limited

FAQ

What is Kazia Therapeutics Limited's ticker symbol?

Kazia Therapeutics Limited's ticker symbol is KZIA.

What was the primary endpoint of the Phase I trial conducted by Kazia Therapeutics Limited?

The primary endpoint of the Phase I trial was reached, showing positive safety and promising clinical response findings in patients with PI3K pathway mutation brain metastases.

What is paxalisib and how was it used in the trial?

Paxalisib is an oral PI3K/mTOR dual inhibitor used in combination with radiation therapy for treating patients with PI3K pathway mutation brain metastases from solid tumors.

How many patients were evaluated in Part I of the study?

Part I of the study evaluated nine patients to establish the maximal tolerated dose of paxalisib in combination with radiation therapy.

What dose of paxalisib was used in Part II of the study?

In Part II, the dose of paxalisib used was 45mg daily in combination with radiation therapy for up to 12 additional patients.

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