Biotech firm Delta-Fly Pharma (TYO:4598) has completed patient enrolment for the phase 2 portion of its clinical trial testing an experimental drug for pancreatic cancer, according to a Tokyo bourse filing on Thursday.
The study, known as DFP-17729, is a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial that combines the company's drug with TS-1, an existing oral chemotherapy, in patients with advanced or recurrent pancreatic cancer that cannot be surgically removed.
The trial uses an adaptive design, meaning the results from the phase 2 portion will determine how many patients are needed for the phase 3 portion. If the drug shows a clear benefit in overall survival, the study can move quickly into the next phase.
If successful, DFP-17729 could offer patients a new treatment option that is taken orally, has a strong safety profile, and is cost-effective. The drug works by neutralising the acidic environment around tumours, which helps slow cancer growth without the serious side effects often seen with other treatments.