Syntara Ltd (ASX:SNT) will undertake a new Phase 2 trial evaluating the combination treatment of SNT-5505 and chemotherapy in patients with low and intermediate risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), a group of blood cancer which affect blood cell production in bone marrow.
The trial will begin later this year, headed by the University of Newcastle’s Associate Professor Anoop Enjeti under the clinical framework of the Australasian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Group (ALLG).
The ALLG is the leading national investigator in blood cancer trials, having conducted more than 160 studies.
The University of Newcastle and its partners Syntara and the Australasian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Group (ALLG) were awarded a competitive Australian Government grant for $830,000 from the Australian Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF).
“Transfusion-dependent myelodysplasia has no approved treatments available for Australian patients,” University of Newcastle Senior Staff Specialist Haematologist/Conjoint Associate Professor Dr Enjet said.
“It is exciting that that MRFF funding will facilitate the collaboration between multiple partners translating the pre-clinical synergies between SNT-5505 and hypomethylating agents, into an early phase clinical trial with potential for improving the survival and quality of life for our patients.”
Grant-enabled indication
“The grant from the MRFF and the support of University of Newcastle and the ALLG enables us to expand the haematology indications for SNT-5505 beyond the current international myelofibrosis (MF) study and into another area of high unmet need and commercial value,” Syntara CEO Gary Phillips said.
“The possibility of seeing safety and efficacy data in this additional indication in the same time frame as the other phase 2 studies in MF, neurodegenerative disease and burn scars is a win for the company and its shareholders and will generate significant interest in SNT-5505 amongst companies with a focus on haematology.”
Syntara will contribute $700,000 over three years to the MDS study as well as supplying the study drug and LOX assays on tissue samples taken during the study.
“The ALLG is the only collaborative blood cancer clinical trial group in Australasia, conducting clinical trials into MDS, AML and other leukaemias, lymphomas and myeloma,” ALLG CEO Delaine Smith said.
“We are excited to launch this partnership to bring an important new treatment arm to the MDS05 MYDAS-T – MESSAGE trial and advance research opportunities for Australian patients with MDS.”
Syntara said the combination therapy had the potential to reduce dependence on transfusion-based treatments and improve the quality of life for MDS patients.
The MDS market is valued at about US$3.5 billion per annum globally, offering a lucrative market beyond the current development of SNT-5505 in myelofibrosis.