The Australian pharmaceutical company Bionomics recently announced that they will be moving into Phase II clinical trials on their newest compound designed to fight mesothelioma. The trials, which will begin this year, are being conducted based on the success of the first round of Phase I testing which took place throughout 2009. Dr. Deborah Rathjen, the Chief Executive Officer of Bionomics, stated that the Phase I trials which were conducted throughout various participating cancer centers and hospitals showed a lot of promise. The new drug also demonstrated the ability to both destroy individual cancer cells and reduce blood flow to cancerous tumors during animal testing.

The new drug, known as BCN105, will be tested this year on sixty different patients suffering from mesothelioma. The trials will aim to improve the prognosis for patients suffering from this aggressive form of cancer, as well as increase their quality of life.

Mesothelioma is an aggressive and fatal cancer that attacks the mesothelium, a soft tissue lining found in both the chest and abdominal cavities. Patients diagnosed with mesothelioma are normally given less than two years to live. The cancer has been linked with asbestos exposure and has become a source of controversy in regards to negligent practices on the part of industrial employers over the last century.

The new drug, BCN105, says Dr. Rathjen, is expected to be more effective against mesothelioma and other types of cancer due to the malignant cells’ inability to develop a resistance to its activities. In many chemotherapy treatments, cancerous cells eventually form an immunity to the drug being used and stop reacting to its presence after some time. In the past, this has necessitated the use of several different drugs being used during therapy to ensure that the cancer is unable to adapt. This practice, unfortunately, can contribute to a rapid deterioration of the patient’s health. Dr. Rathjen hopes that cancer cells will be unable to develop an immunity to BCN105 as effectively as existing treatments.

The Phase II trials will be conducted in Australia until the beginning of 2011. If the trials continue to show promise and can be proved effective against mesothelioma, Bionomics will begin to consider its commercial applications.