A $1.25 million investment is advancing the development of a potential new treatment for advanced and therapy-resistant prostate cancer, with researchers at The University of Queensland moving the drug candidate closer to clinical trials.
The funding will support the development of QED-203, a small molecule drug based on research led by Professor Greg Monteith from UQ’s School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, UQ said in a news release.
The drug is being developed by the Queensland Emory Drug Discovery Initiative (QEDDI), the university’s small molecule drug discovery unit operating under UniQuest, UQ’s commercialisation company.
The investment comes from the Translational Therapeutics Accelerator (TRxA), a program of the US-based Critical Path Institute that supports drug discovery initiatives aimed at addressing unmet medical needs.
Dr Brian Dymock, head of QEDDI, said prostate cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer among men globally, with approximately 280,000 cases progressing annually to metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), a form of the disease with limited treatment options.
“We are incredibly grateful to Critical Path Institute for the support as we advance our novel prostate cancer therapy, QED-203, toward clinical development,” Dr Dymock said.
“This funding will enable us to conduct key drug manufacturing and safety studies, bringing QED-203 significantly closer to becoming a novel therapeutic option for patients who would otherwise have very limited treatment options.”
According to Dr Dymock, the QEDDI team discovered that the drug’s target was particularly relevant in treating advanced forms of prostate cancer, offering a potential new pathway for therapy.
Professor Monteith, whose research focuses on calcium signalling in cancer progression, described the development as an exciting milestone after years of foundational research.
“Our first work on this target and its importance in cancer progression began almost 15 years ago,” he said.
“It is very exciting to have worked with QEDDI scientists who have developed this first-in-class drug that now has the potential to better treat prostate cancers that have become resistant to current therapies.”
TRxA Executive Director Dr Maaike Everts said QED-203’s novel mode of action represents a potentially transformative approach for patients with advanced prostate cancer.
“We are excited to support this groundbreaking research that has the potential to significantly impact the treatment landscape for advanced prostate cancer,” Dr Everts said.
The funding will support preclinical studies including safety and process optimisation, as well as drug substance manufacturing – key steps required before human clinical trials can commence.
