Clinical Trial Results To-Date
The Phase 1b clinical trial has enrolled 14 ASTS patients (9 female and 5 male) to-date ranging in age from 26 to 81 years (median = 52.5 years) across five dose cohorts. The trial is currently ongoing and is in the fifth dose level cohort (650 mg/m2).
So far, 9 out of the 14 patients have had stable disease (SD, as defined by RECIST 1.1 criteria) after camsirubicin treatment. All patients in the fourth and fifth cohorts achieved stable disease, including the three most recently treated patients, each of whom also experienced an ~20% tumor size reduction at last study scan. One of these patients had unresectable cancer at study entry, but after the tumor size reduction, the patient became eligible for resection and underwent successful surgical removal of their cancer with clear margins.
No dose-limiting toxicity, as defined in the protocol, has been observed to-date. A medically complex patient in the 650 mg/m2 dose cohort has an ongoing left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) decrease that is being monitored. This patient has a BMI of 42.5, one kidney, hypertension, a long standing heart murmur, and a maternal history of heart failure. No toxicities have occurred requiring expansion of a dose cohort, and the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) has not been reached.
Camsirubicin Background
ASTS is a deadly cancer with inadequate treatment options. Doxorubicin is currently the first-line standard of care treatment for most types of ASTS, and the average life expectancy from time of diagnosis for these patients is only about 12 to 15 months. Because of the risk of irreversible heart damage, patients discontinue doxorubicin treatment after just 6 to 8 cycles. Camsirubicin was designed to retain the anti-cancer activity while avoiding the irreversible heart damage that is seen with doxorubicin. The value-driving hypothesis for camsirubicin is straightforward: modifying doxorubicin to reduce cardiac damage could enable both higher and longer dosing, resulting in better efficacy and patient outcomes.
About Monopar Therapeutics Inc.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “project,” “potential,” “continue,” “target” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Examples of these forward-looking statements include statements concerning: that camsirubicin has been designed to retain the anti-cancer activity while avoiding the irreversible heart damage that is seen with doxorubicin; that the hypothesis for camsirubicin is straightforward: modifying doxorubicin in order to reduce cardiac damage could enable higher and longer dosing, resulting in better efficacy and patient outcomes. The forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to: the camsirubicin Phase 1b trial not proving safety and efficacy at higher doses; not successfully recruiting additional patients and initiating additional clinical trial sites for the camsirubicin Phase 1b clinical trial within expected timeframes, if at all; the Company’s inability to raise sufficient funds or engage a partner to continue the camsirubicin clinical program beyond the Phase 1b clinical trial; and the significant general risks and uncertainties surrounding the research, development, regulatory approval, and commercialization of therapeutics. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Risks are described more fully in Monopar's filings with the
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Investor Relations
Kim R. Tsuchimoto
Chief Financial Officer
kimtsu@monopartx.com
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