Amplia Therapeutics Limited (ASX: ATX), an Australia-based drug development company, announced on Monday new data showing the efficacy of its investigational FAK inhibitor, AMP945, in a preclinical model of pancreatic cancer, when used in combination with FOLFIRINOX treatment.

FOLFIRINOX, a combination of four chemotherapies used in the treatment of pancreatic cancer patients, is currently a widely-used treatment in many major markets around the world including the US.

According to Amplia, new data from preclinical studies conducted in the laboratory of Prof. Paul Timpson at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research in Sydney, demonstrate that mice treated with AMP945 in addition to FOLFIRINOX show improved overall survival compared to those treated with FOLFIRINOX alone. The data, available in the Meeting Abstracts for the forthcoming American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago, USA,] describe studies in mice bearing pancreatic cancer tumours derived from a human patient. AMP945 was given in the days preceding FOLFIRINOX treatment (given on a 12-day cycle) resulting in a statistically significant increase in survival (up to 35% approx.) compared to FOLFIRINOX-only treated mice.

Dr Chris Burns, Amplia's CEO and managing director commented: 'The exciting results from this mouse study further indicate the potential of AMP945 in pancreatic cancer treatment when used in combination with standard-of-care therapies. In light of this data, we have filed a patent to cover the use of FAK inhibitors, and particularly AMP945, in combination with FOLFIRINOX and related treatment regimes.'