Neonc Technologies has completed enrollment for its Phase 2a clinical trial of NEO100, an intranasal treatment for high-grade glioma, the company announced.
This follows the release of positive interim data suggesting the experimental treatment, which uses a compound found in plants, may help reduce tumors and extend survival in patients with this aggressive brain cancer.
“Completing enrollment for our Phase 2a trial marks a defining inflection point for Neonc Technologies,” Amir Heshmatpour, executive chairman, president, and CEO of Neonc, said in a company press release. “This achievement follows exceptionally positive interim data and propels us into the next stage of value creation for NEO100 a novel, intranasal therapy that continues to show the potential for radiographic remission and durable survival in one of the most challenging cancers known to medicine.”
What is NEO100 and how is it delivered?
NEO100 is a formulation of perillyl alcohol (POH), a compound that’s naturally found in certain plants such as citrus and lavender. It’s sometimes used as a flavoring agent in food, but recent research has also indicated that it can interfere with cell division, sparking interest in its potential use as a treatment for cancers characterized by uncontrolled cell division.
NEO100 is designed for intranasal administration (inserted up the nose). It’s formulated to help POH cross the blood-brain barrier, a cellular wall that protects the brain from toxins and other foreign components.
Neonc is running a Phase 1/2 clinical trial (NCT02704858) testing NEO100 in people with high-grade glioma that carries a specific type of genetic mutation, called an IDH1 mutation, and has not responded well to prior treatments. High-grade glioma is characterized by rapid, aggressive growth that spreads quickly into surrounding brain tissue.
The company recently announced interim results from 24 patients in the study. Findings showed five (21%) of the patients had a significant radiographic response, essentially meaning the size of their tumor was reduced, and nearly half (44%) of the patients went six months or longer without signs of disease progression.
According to Neonc, these findings compare favorably with historical outcomes from patients with this type of hard-to-treat glioma, where typically less than one in 10 have a radiographic response and less than a third survive six months without disease progression. The company reported that, as of the latest follow-up, eight of the 24 patients were still alive 1.5 years or more after starting treatment with NEO100.
“The strength of the data observed to date reinforces our confidence that our proprietary intranasal delivery platform — uniquely designed to bypass the blood-brain barrier represents a breakthrough approach for treating aggressive brain tumors,” Heshmatpour said.
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