Benzinga | Sep 16, 2021 08:06AM EDT

Monopar Initiates Open-Label Phase 1b Clinical Trial Evaluating Camsirubicin In Patients With Advanced Soft Tissue Sarcoma

Monopar Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:MNPR), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing proprietary therapeutics designed to extend life or improve the quality of life for cancer patients, today announced its Phase 1b open-label dose-escalation clinical trial of camsirubicin in the US is active and recruiting patients. The trial is evaluating the safety and anti-tumor activity of increasing doses of camsirubicin in combination with growth factor support (pegfilgrastim/G-CSF) for the treatment of advanced soft tissue sarcoma (ASTS).



"This trial initiation marks a pivotal moment in the development of camsirubicin. The goal is to determine whether escalating doses of camsirubicin result in an increased anti-cancer effect in patients with ASTS, while also maintaining an appropriate safety profile," said Chandler Robinson, MD, Monopar's Chief Executive Officer.

"We are very pleased with the positive response and dedication from physicians and clinical sites interested in participating in this clinical trial, enabling us to initiate the study in the US faster than we anticipated," said Octavio Costa, MD, Monopar's Chief Medical Officer.

Currently, ASTS patients receive doxorubicin, a widely used cancer drug that becomes more effective in higher doses. Unfortunately, patients are forced to stop treatment once a cumulative lifetime dose limit is reached, as higher dosing causes severe irreversible heart damage.

"Camsirubicin has already shown anti-tumor activity comparable to doxorubicin in a pilot study in ASTS patients, without any signs of irreversible heart damage," said Andrew Mazar, PhD, Monopar's Chief Scientific Officer. "We are excited, as the previous study's dose of camsirubicin will be the first dose level in this Phase 1b clinical trial. From there the dose will increase, hopefully with corresponding increases in anti-cancer effect, to identify a recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D) of camsirubicin when given with concomitant pegfilgrastim."

Further information about the camsirubicin trial is available at www.ClinicalTrials.gov under study identifier NCT 05043649.