BP-C1
Meabco’s lead product is BP-C1, which is based on
BP-Cx-1 combined with cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II). BP-C1
is in clinical development for breast cancer, with other types
of cancer being planned.
BP-C1 is currently undergoing
clinical trials against breast cancer. Plans are being made to
broaden the trials to cover other types of cancers.
Competitive edge
Platinum (Pt) compounds are well known
anti-cancer drugs used for the treatment of many types of
cancers such as gastrointestinal cancer, lung cancer, ovarian
cancer, testicular cancer, as well as bladder cancer and
malignant melanoma. Despite the preferential targeting of
cancer cells, traditional platinum-based drugs suffer from
significant side effects such as nausea, nephrotoxicity (resulting
in kidney impairment), ototoxicity (resulting in permanent
hearing impairment), and moderate myeloid suppression (affecting
the cells of the blood and immune system). These side effects
are of great concern when using this type of drugs.
Traditional platinum compounds rely on passive
diffusion into the cell, requiring relatively high plasma
concentrations in order to achieve sufficient therapeutic
intracellular concentrations. As discussed above, BP-Cx-1 is,
however, capable of chelating the platinum and facilitates its
uptake into cancer cells. This results in similar therapeutic
effects being achieved for BP-C1 at much lower doses of platinum.
In fact, therapeutic doses of BP-C1 contain approximately
100-times less platinum than traditional Cisplatin drugs do,
resulting in much reduced side effects. As opposed to
traditional platinum compounds, BP-C1 also stimulates the immune
system and generally improves patients well being.
Clinical development
Initial clinical experience with BP-C1 exists
from compassionate use in 150 cancer patients of which 28
patients were diagnosed with various stages of breast cancer. A
combined response rate of 82% and only mild transient side
effects were observed. Based on these data, breast cancer was
selected as the initial indication for clinical development.
A Phase I/II trial has subsequently been
conducted in Denmark in 17 patients suffering from Stage IV
breast cancer. A 50% response rate and mild transient side
effects were observed. As a consequence, the Danish Medicine
Agency recently gave Meabco permission to progress the product
into Phase II trials. The aim of the trial is to confirm the
efficacy and safety already recorded with BP-C1 in previous
trials. Due to the excellent safety profile of BP-C1, the
trials will be continued as randomized double blind placebo
trials.
In addition to breast cancer, other indications
are currently being contemplated. Given the successful
completion of the Phase I/II trial, the company expects to move
directly into Phase II for these indications.
