Kazia Therapeutics shares surge after positive early phase II study results for GDC-0084 in brain cancer patients

Kazia Therapeutics Ltd (ASX:KZA (NASDAQ:KZIA) shares have been up as much as 82% after revealing positive interim data from its ongoing phase II study of GDC-0084 in glioblastoma, the most common and most aggressive form of primary brain cancer.

Nine patients participated in Stage 1 of the study, of which eight were evaluable for efficacy.

Progression-free survival (PFS) in this initial group of patients was determined to be 8.4 months.

The existing standard of care, temozolomide, has a reported PFS of around 5.3 months, although cross-study comparisons must always be treated with caution.

Overall survival (OS) could not yet be calculated, with 75% of evaluable patients still alive at the cut-off date for analysis.

In aggregate, these early results provide a strong signal that GDC-0084 may provide clinical benefit in this patient population.

Investors responded positively with securities up as high as 80-cents intra-day, a new 12-month high for the company.

A meaningful OS benefit may emerge as the study matures

Kazia CEO Dr James Garner said: “This is early first look data from the study, representing around a third of the total patients to be enrolled, but it has already exceeded our expectations.

“We see a clear signal that GDC-0084 is providing clinical benefit in this group of patients.

“Although it has not yet been possible to calculate overall survival, the fact that the majority of patients in the first stage of the study remain alive more than a year after diagnosis suggests that a meaningful OS benefit may emerge as the study matures.Read More – Source