Kazia Therapeutics Ltd ADR (NASDAQ:KZIA) saw its stock jump 45% after unveiling preliminary data from the first patient enrolled in its Phase 1b study evaluating a new combination therapy for metastatic triple-negative breast cancer.
The company highlighted that the patient, a 61-year-old woman, experienced a greater than 50% reduction in circulating tumor cells (CTCs) along with a marked drop in CTC clusters following just 21 days of treatment. The experimental regimen consists of Kazia’s investigational therapy Paxalisib used alongside pembrolizumab (Keytruda®) and standard chemotherapy.
These findings are notable given the role of CTC clusters in promoting cancer metastasis and poor patient outcomes. Typically, chemotherapy alone can cause a temporary rise in CTCs early in treatment, while immunotherapies often take longer to show measurable impact.
“It is very exciting to see our extensive preclinical research translate into such positive early data in this first patient receiving a combination of Paxalisib and immunotherapy. The degree of reduction in tumor cell dissemination markers in just 21 days gives us strong reason for optimism as we continue this clinical trial,” said Dr. John Friend, MD, Chief Executive Officer of Kazia Therapeutics.
Further analysis also revealed a decline in the mesenchymal phenotype of residual CTCs, a marker linked to aggressive cancer behavior and metastasis. The company is continuing patient enrollment in the study to assess the safety, tolerability, and biological activity of the therapy combination.
Looking ahead, Kazia plans to correlate CTC changes with imaging results and clinical endpoints, including progression-free survival, to deepen understanding of the therapy’s potential impact.
Kazia Therapeutics stock price
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