Starpharma Holdings Limited announced Cabazitaxel (Jevtana, Sanofi) is a market leading chemotherapy for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer (mCRPC). Developed by Australian biotech company Starpharma, DEP® cabazitaxel is a patented, highly water soluble dendrimer nanoparticle version of standard cabazitaxel which has shown, in preclinical and clinical studies, benefits in terms of safety and efficacy. DEP® cabazitaxel showed multiple potential benefits for patients with mCRPC, including: A >30% improvement in median progression free survival (PFS; time a patient lives without disease progression following treatment) compared to standard cabazitaxel - 3.9 months v 2.9 months respectively; 100% of evaluable DEP® cabazitaxel patients achieved a response in at least 1 measure of efficacy (soft tissue disease, prostate specific antigen and/or bone disease); Lower incidence of severe (Grade 3 or 4) treatment related adverse events (TRAEs) compared to standard cabazitaxel - 7.5% v 39.7% respectively; No severe hypersensitivity reactions observed, or steroid pre-medication required, and only 2 patients required prophylactic G-CSF (used after chemotherapy to help white blood cells recover) in contrast to standard cabazitaxel.

Patients enrolled had an average age of 73 and were heavily pre-treated before entering the study (average of 4 other cancer treatment types - 70 cycles/months), in addition to surgery and radiation. 96% had also previously received either docetaxel and/or standard cabazitaxel (Jevtana). This age group and level of pre-treatment is important to note because these patients would not be expected to respond as well to further similar therapies and are at higher risk of neutropenic complications.