Exhibit 99.1
Kintara Therapeutics Announces Initiation of REM-001 Clinical Trial for the Treatment of Cutaneous Metastatic Breast Cancer
- 15-patient Open Label Study to Confirm Planned Dose and Optimized Study Design Leading to a Phase 3 Clinical Trial in CMBC Patients -
SAN DIEGO, February 12, 2024/PRNewswire/ -- Kintara Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: KTRA) (“Kintara” or the “Company”), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of new solid tumor cancer therapies, today announced the initiation of a REM-001 15-patient clinical trial (NCT05374915) in cutaneous metastatic breast cancer (CMBC) patients.
This open label 15-patient study in CMBC patients is evaluating REM-001, a second-generation photodynamic therapy (PDT) photosensitizer agent, and is designed to test the 0.8 mg dose as well as optimize the study design in advance of a Phase 3 trial initiation. The primary endpoint in the study is Best Overall Objective Response Rate (bORR) (complete response or partial response) of the target treatment fields at any time from treatment up to, and including, week 24.
In June 2023, Kintara was awarded a $2.0 million Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support the clinical development of REM-001 in CMBC. This grant will cover the majority of the costs to run this clinical study.
“We are encouraged by the extensive data from prior REM-001 therapy trials supporting its strong efficacy in CMBC patients, providing us with an opportunity to address a significant unmet medical need,” said Robert E. Hoffman, President and CEO of Kintara. “With an 80% complete response rate for evaluable lesions in CMBC patients observed in previous late-stage clinical trials and the support of the NIH, along with the FDA’s Fast Track Designation, we are confident in the potential of REM-001 to help CMBC patients.”
“CMBC is a devastating disease with limited treatment options for patients,” said Alina Markova, M.D., Section Head, General Dermatology and Oncodermatology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Principal Investigator of the REM-001 15-patient study. “I am looking forward to testing the therapeutic potential of REM-001 in this trial and bringing novel therapies to CMBC patients to improve their quality of life.”
Cutaneous metastases can develop with any metastatic cancer but are believed to occur most frequently in metastatic breast cancer. A 2003 meta-analysis of over 20,000 metastatic cancer patients found that 24% of the breast cancer patients included in the analysis had developed cutaneous metastases, which was the highest rate of any cancer type. Based on a 2017 analysis, the current prevalence of metastatic breast cancer in the United States is estimated to be over 168,000. Accordingly, the prevalence of CMBC may be in excess of 40,000 cases annually in the United States.
ABOUT KINTARA
Located in San Diego, California, Kintara is dedicated to the development of novel cancer therapies for patients with unmet medical needs. Kintara develops therapeutics for clear unmet medical needs with reduced risk development programs. The Company’s lead program is REM-001 Therapy for cutaneous metastatic breast cancer.
Kintara has a proprietary, late-stage photodynamic therapy platform that holds promise as a localized cutaneous, or visceral, tumor treatment as well as in other potential indications. REM-001 Therapy, which consists of the laser light source, the light delivery device, and the REM-001 drug product, has been previously studied in four Phase 2/3 clinical trials in patients with CMBC who had previously received chemotherapy and/or failed radiation therapy. In CMBC, REM-001 has a clinical efficacy to date of 80% complete responses of CMBC evaluable lesions and an existing robust safety database of approximately 1,100 patients across multiple indications.
For more information, please visit www.kintara.com or follow us on X at @Kintara_Thera, Facebook and LinkedIn.
SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT
Any statements contained in this press release that do not describe historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the Company’s REM-001 15-patient clinical trial in CMBC patients. Any forward-looking statements contained herein are based on current expectations but are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. The factors that could cause actual future results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties relating to the Company's ability to develop, market and sell products based on its technology; the Company’s review of strategic alternatives; the expected benefits and efficacy of the Company's products and technology; the availability of substantial additional funding for the Company to continue its operations and to conduct research and development, clinical studies and future product commercialization; the status of the Company’s clinical trials; the Company's business, research, product development, regulatory approval, marketing and distribution plans and strategies; and global unrest. These and other factors are identified and described in more detail in the Company's filings with the SEC, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2023, the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and the Company's Current Reports on Form 8-K.
CONTACTS
Investors:
Robert E. Hoffman
Kintara Therapeutics
rhoffman@kintara.com
-2-