Five dogs have completed trial assessment of PharmAust Limited’s (ASX:PAA) Phase IIb trial evaluating the effects of monepantel upon pet owners’ dogs with treatment-naïve B cell lymphoma.
To date, the six dogs with stage 4 to 5 B-cell lymphoma, have completed assessment across the five participating trial sites. Treatment of one dog was not in compliance with the dosing instructions (MPL after meal) and that dog was withdrawn from the trial.
Some mild and occasional inappetence was reported in some dogs but this appears insignificant and difficult to attribute solely to MPL. Pleasingly, side-effect levels to date are below those of other conventional anticancer drugs and trial veterinarians report that, at day 28, all participating dogs have been in good spirits and well within themselves. As such the owners have elected to continue treating their dogs with MPL on compassionate use, post-trial.
A further six pet dogs that did not meet the trial inclusion criteria are also being treated under compassionate use with MPL in varying combinations with other anticancer drugs.
Chief Scientific Officer, Dr Richard Mollard, said PharmAust will perform an interim analysis of MPL and MPLS blood levels being achieved in this trial. Determination of these levels will provide a conservative baseline threshold for the very satisfactory side-effect profile observed. The levels will also provide invaluable information for establishing future stand-alone and/or combination treatment regimens for Phase III trials in dogs.
Dr Mollard said furthermore, the pharmacokinetic data extracted will provide important information for forthcoming trials in humans.
It is very satisfying to see minimal side effects after the observed inappetence during the first trial with the tablets. This gives PharmAust plenty of room to further monepantel testing as a standalone therapy or in combination with other drugs in future larger trials,” Dr Mollard said.