WarraPharm to commercialise colorectal cancer therapy

6 November 2009

A suite of anti-cancer reformulations developed by researchers at the University of Wollongong (UOW), is to be commercialised by new Australian start-up company, WarraPharm Pty Ltd.

WarraPharm develops proprietary reformulations of widely prescribed anti-neoplastic agents targeting common cancers.

Emeritus Professor John Bremner at UOW’s School of Chemistry and Professor Phillip Clingan, in collaboration with Associate Professor Marie Ranson, developed the technology to address many of the adverse events associated with metastatic colorectal cancer treatments over the past 50 years.

As well as combining two of the most commonly prescribed anti-cancer agents (5-fluorouracil and leucovorin), the lead reformulation Fluorodex highlights the benefits of cross-discipline research, in this case medicinal chemistry, biological science and clinical practice. Professors Clingan and Ranson are both directors of the recently established Cancer Continuum Research Program at the Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute (IHMRI*), where such research is gaining momentum.

WarraPharm researcher Dr Tamantha Stutchbury, reporting on the preclinical testing of Fluorodex, said the reformulation indicated comparable outcomes to current standard-of-care chemotherapies.

“Adverse events associated with colorectal cancer treatment, such as peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage), phlebitis (vein inflammation), hand-foot syndrome (tender skin and redness) and sepsis (infection) are particularly unpleasant for patients. The latest toxicity and safety data has shown Fluorodex to have a significantly reduced adverse event profile,” said Dr Stutchbury.

“This suggests treatment outcomes could be improved, because patients would be less likely to have to interrupt or discontinue their chemotherapy. The Fluorodex formulation could alleviate some of those reactions and make it possible for the full benefits of the chemotherapy to be gained.”

“We see one of the main benefits of Fluorodex is the ability to deliver a highly cost-effective chemotherapeutic regimen that patients can tolerate over repeated treatment cycles,” said WarraPharm CEO, Dr Jeremy Chrisp.

“With our commercialisation strategy in place, WarraPharm is on track for the Fluorodex formulation to enter clinical trials in late 2010,” he said.

Working with the UOW’s commercialisation partner, UniQuest, WarraPharm has secured an exclusive licence for the intellectual property surrounding Fluorodex and other novel reformulations. WarraPharm was recently awarded a COMET grant from AusIndustry to help advance the technology towards its commercial milestones, and was a finalist in the 2009 UQ Business School's Enterprize business plan competition.

WarraPharm also gratefully acknowledges the support it has received from the local Wollongong based Cancer Carers organisation, which has contributed substantially to the development of Fluorodex.

*Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute was established in 2008 as a joint initiative between the University of Wollongong and the South Eastern Sydney Illawarra Area Health Service.