Nanotechnology Now - Press Release: Starpharma Signs Cancer Drug Agreement with AstraZeneca

Home > Press > Starpharma Signs Cancer Drug Agreement with AstraZeneca

Abstract:
Starpharma Holdings Ltd (ASX:SPL;OTCQX: SPHRY) today announced the signing of an agreement with global pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca giving AstraZeneca the right to test certain proprietary Starpharma oncology molecules based on Starpharma's dendrimer technology.

Starpharma Signs Cancer Drug Agreement with AstraZeneca

Melbourne, Australia | Posted on September 6th, 2012

Under the agreement AstraZeneca will undertake oncology studies using specific Starpharma drug-dendrimer conjugate molecules. The primary objective of the program is to assess the suitability of the dendrimer constructs for particular applications within the cancer field.

The identity of the anti-cancer molecules to be studied is covered by confidentiality restrictions, but Starpharma notes that the arrangement does not relate to docetaxel or to dendrimer conjugates of docetaxel. Further details of the arrangement between the parties were not disclosed.

####

About Starpharma Holdings Limited
Starpharma Holdings Limited (ASX:SPL, OTCQX:SPHRY) is an ASX 300 company and is a world leader in the development of dendrimer products for pharmaceutical, life science and other applications.

Starpharma’s underlying technology is built around dendrimers – a type of synthetic nanoscale polymer that is highly regular in size and structure and well suited to pharmaceutical and other uses. Starpharma has three core development programs: VivaGel® portfolio, drug delivery and agrochemicals with the Company developing a number of products internally and others via commercial partnerships. In addition, products for diagnostics and laboratory reagents are already on market through licence arrangements with partners including Siemens Healthcare and Merck KGaA.

Starpharma’s lead product is VivaGel® (SPL7013 Gel), a gel-based formulation of a proprietary dendrimer. VivaGel® is under clinical development for the treatment and prevention of bacterial vaginosis (BV) and also as a vaginal microbicide to prevent the transmission of sexually transmitted infections including HIV and genital herpes.

Starpharma has also signed separate licence agreements with Ansell Limited (ASX:ANN) and Okamoto Industries Inc (Tokyo Stock Exchange) to market a value-added, VivaGel®-coated condom. Ansell manufactures and sells leading condom brands worldwide, including Lifestyles®, ZERO® and SKYN®. Okamoto is the market leader for condoms sold in Japan, the world’s second largest condom market.

In the wider pharmaceutical and life science fields, Starpharma has both partnered and internal programs in Drug Delivery. Most recently Starpharma announced pre-clinical results in its Docetaxel (Taxotere®) program demonstrating significant improvements in that agent’s anticancer efficacy and the enhancement of solubility offering potential safety benefits as well. The company is also exploring dendrimer opportunities in agrochemicals in a series of industry partnerships as well as with internal programs including an enhanced version of glyphosate (the active ingredient in Roundup®).

Starpharma’s headquarters and research facilities are located in Melbourne, Australia.

For more information, please click here

Contacts:
Haley Price
Account Manager
BUCHAN CONSULTING
LEVEL 13 499 ST KILDA ROAD
MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA 3004
TEL +61 3 8866 1215
MOB +61 (0) 423 139 163
www.buchanwe.com.au

If you have a comment, please Contact us.

Issuers of news releases, not 7th Wave, Inc. or Nanotechnology Now, are solely responsible for the accuracy of the content.

Bookmark: