Invion is developing a PhotoDynamic Therapy (PDT) with a novel photosensitiser IVX-PDT, based on the PhotosoftTM Technology to improve the treatment of skin cancers (topical application) and hard-to-treat solid cancers, including lung, prostrate, ovarian and mesothelomia, a rare form of cancer that can develop decades after exposure to asbestos (intravenous application).
Invion has produced a new topical and intravenous product suitable for use in skin cancer and in solid tumours, such as those present in ovarian, prostate and lung cancer.
Given the significant commercial and clinical potential of its assets, Invion will look to progress multiple programs and commence pre-clinical and clinical trials in 2019. They include topical indications for Basal Cell Carcinoma and Actinic Keratosis (skin cancer and precancerous cells) and intravenous indications for mesothelomia. Invion will also further explore the application of the PhotosoftTM Technology in ovarian, lung and prostate cancer.
For more on each development, see the information below.
IVX's application in Lung
Invion is currently positioning the company for future use and development of IVX-PDt in lung cancer PDT treatments.
As such, Invion recently appointed lung cancer consultant Assoc. Prof Louis Irving to the Company’s Scientific Advisory Board. Invion is planning to expand its operations to include intravenous applications of its PDT treatment for lung cancer.
The company will look to expand this development throughout 2019 and 2020.
IVX's application in Gynaecological
Invion's recently completed in vitro trials with leading Australian researchers from the Hudson Institute of Medical Research for its IVX-PDT compound to treat multiple ovarian cancer cell lines.
The treatment aims to address a known gap in current treatment options for ovarian cancers, which have a five-year mortality rate greater than 70 per cent. Also, ovarian cancer patients almost universally develop recurrent, chemo-resistant disease.
Researchers compared the efficacy of four photosensitisers used in PhotoDynamic Therapy, including Photosoft Oral and an improved formulation of PhotosoftTM technology called IVX-PDT, in in vitro tests against ovarian cancer cells.
Of the in vitro tests’ findings, the most significant was the effectiveness of the IVX-PDT – found to have 15-fold greater in vitro cytotoxicity against ovarian cancer cells, compared to Photosoft Oral.
Trials on mice with advanced ovarian cancer and which have had IVX-PDT administered intraperitoneally have shown that the IVX-PDT compound clearly identifies cancerous tumour tissue, accumulates in the tumour tissue and is not taken up by normal tissue.
Invion's research with The Hudson Institute lays the foundation for ongoing 2019 preclinical trials of IVX-PDT as a potentially viable commercial treatment for ovarian cancer.
IVX's application in Skin
Invion is currently developing a topical formulation of its photosensitising agent, IVX-PDT, to treat superficial Basal Cell Carcinoma (sBCC), Actinic Keratosis (AK) and Squamous Cell Cancer (SCC).
On the basis of pre-clinical studies conducted to date, it is expected that the reaction of visible light and oxygen with the IVX-PDT gel will kill the cancer cells on the patient’s skin, leaving surrounding cells unharmed.
Invion expects its IVX-PDT gel will be more powerful than currently available topical therapies used to treat skin cancer and could offer skin cancer patients a new treatment option.
The company aims to have the fast-drying IVX-PDT gel ready for testing in human clinical studies in the first half of 2020. Invion has engaged industry experts Formulytica and vivoPharm to develop and test the IVX-PDT gel, and appointed cancer specialist Dr Lynda Spelman to the Company’s Scientific Advisory Board in January 2019 to ensure that drug development for application to skin cancer is optimised.
Invion's skin cancer treatment – referred to as IVX-SKIN – is in pre-clinical studies in 2019 and is expected to enter into Phase Ib human trials for the treatment of BCC in 2020.
Phase III human trials for the treatment of BCC and AK and are expected to commence in 2021, to be followed by the start of the registration process.