Kazia Reports Strategic License Agreement with QIMR Berghofer

Kazia Enters Licensing Agreement with QIMR Berghofer

Kazia Therapeutics Limited (NASDAQ: KZIA), an oncology-focused drug development company, is thrilled to announce a significant licensing agreement with QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, one of the leading cancer research centers in Australia. This agreement grants Kazia exclusive rights to certain intellectual property focusing on innovative combination therapies that incorporate PI3K inhibitor drugs alongside immunotherapy or PARP inhibitors.

Partnership Highlights

Under the terms of the licensing agreement, Kazia has gained a worldwide, sub-licensable, and royalty-bearing license for the development of drugs or product candidates that fall under the PI3K inhibitor category when combined with immunotherapy or PARP inhibitors. Notably, Kazia's lead product candidate, paxalisib, is a member of this drug class, positioning the company to advance its research and clinical development efforts significantly.

Collaboration Success

This exclusive license stems from a fruitful collaboration between Kazia and QIMR Berghofer that commenced in late 2022. Their partnership has resulted in the filing of critical patents, notably relating to the use of paxalisib as an immune modulator for treating various cancers, including breast cancer.

CEO Comments on the License Agreement

Kazia's CEO, Dr. John Friend, expressed his enthusiasm regarding the agreement, stating, "This is an exciting evolution in our partnership with QIMR Berghofer and an important milestone for not only Kazia's development of paxalisib but also for our commercial portfolio as we secure the license for a significant cancer immunotherapy pathway. We are excited to have acquired the potential intellectual property rights around PI3K inhibitors, allowing us to further explore innovative cancer treatments, particularly in solid tumors like breast cancer."

Insights from QIMR Berghofer

Professor Fabienne Mackay, Director and CEO of QIMR Berghofer, emphasized the productive collaboration, stating, "We are pleased to enter this exclusive license agreement with Kazia after a successful two-year research partnership. We anticipate progressing clinical developments for PI3K inhibitor drugs, including paxalisib, to deliver meaningful benefits to cancer patients."

Research Developments

Kazia's ongoing preclinical research at QIMR Berghofer focuses on paxalisib in the context of solid tumors. This research is led by Professor Sudha Rao, an expert in cancer biology, who is at the forefront of studying how paxalisib works in combination with other therapies in Triple Negative Breast Cancer and other advanced breast cancer cases.

Preclinical Successes

Early preclinical studies have shown promising results, demonstrating that the combination of paxalisib with checkpoint inhibitors considerably improves the immune response against tumors. These findings highlight paxalisib's potential to enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapy, particularly in challenging cancers like breast cancer. More data from these studies is expected to be presented at future scientific conferences in 2025.

Future Directions

As Professor Rao stated, "The immune system plays a crucial role in combating cancer. We need effective treatments that not only target tumor cells but also boost immunotherapy's effectiveness against metastatic cancers. Paxalisib is a notable PI3K inhibitor as it has shown the capability to reduce primary tumor loads while revitalizing the immune response in patients. We look forward to sharing more preliminary findings on paxalisib's role in treating breast cancer soon."

About Kazia Therapeutics Limited

Kazia Therapeutics Limited (NASDAQ: KZIA) stands at the forefront of oncology-focused drug development. The company is based in Sydney, and its primary program, paxalisib, targets multiple brain cancers through a well-studied pathway - the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. paxalisib was licensed from Genentech in late 2016 and has been a part of several clinical trials, highlighting its potential.

The company is actively pursuing trials involving paxalisib for various conditions including glioblastoma, where recent studies have recorded notable clinical responses. A pivotal study has been completed, with data presentation planned for an upcoming major medical conference.

Regulatory Designations

paxalisib received Orphan Drug Designation from the FDA for glioblastoma in early 2018 and has since also been granted Fast Track Designation for additional indications related to brain metastases and pediatric cancers. The company continues to build on its successes with new trials and collaborations.

Conclusion

Kazia is not only dedicated to advancing products like paxalisib but is also working on EVT801, a small molecule that targets VEGFR3, offering hope for a wide range of cancer types. With promising preclinical results already achieved, Kazia aims to share further updates in the coming years as they advance their clinical studies.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the significance of Kazia's licensing agreement with QIMR Berghofer?

The licensing agreement allows Kazia to develop innovative combination therapies involving PI3K inhibitors, expanding its oncology drug portfolio.

What are the main focuses of Kazia Therapeutics?

Kazia focuses on developing drugs for different cancer types, primarily through its lead candidate, paxalisib, which targets brain cancers.

What research is being conducted at QIMR Berghofer?

Research includes examining paxalisib's effectiveness in solid tumors such as breast cancer, particularly in collaborations with leading experts.

What is paxalisib?

Paxalisib is an investigational brain-penetrant PI3K inhibitor being evaluated for its ability to treat various forms of brain cancers.

How is Kazia positioned for future growth?

Kazia is exploring new therapeutic avenues and has received favorable FDA designations, indicating strong potential for its investigational drugs.

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