Panbela Therapeutics Inc., (Nasdaq: PBLA) is thrilled to announce a new research collaboration with the esteemed Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. This exciting venture will focus on furthering the development of Panbela’s investigational agent ivospemin (SBP-101), exploring its potential in the treatment of ovarian and other cancers, delving into its underlying mechanisms of action, and evaluating possible combinations with CPP-1X and standard of care agents. This collaboration promises to provide significant advances to the field of cancer therapeutics.
The research will be co-led by two renowned researchers in the field of oncology from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine: Robert Casero, Ph.D., professor, and Tracy Murray Stewart, Ph.D., Senior Research Scientist. Prof. Casero and Dr. Murray Stewart have devoted their careers to discovering drugs that target key pathways for chemotherapy and chemoprevention, including amine metabolism, epigenetic regulation, and inflammation – research that could potentially revolutionize cancer treatments.
About Panbela’s Pipeline
The pipeline of our clinical trials is targeting a range of conditions, starting with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). From there, we are looking to develop treatments for first-line metastatic pancreatic cancer, neoadjuvant pancreatic cancer, colorectal cancer prevention, and ovarian cancer. Our development programs have a range of stages, from pre-clinical to registration studies, and as we progress through each phase, there are plenty of exciting milestones to look forward to.
Ivospemin (SBP-101)
Ivospemin is a polyamine analogue with a demonstrated high affinity for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and other tumors, showing potential for growth inhibition in clinical studies. With a median overall survival of 14.6 months and an objective response rate of 48%, Ivospemin exceeds the typical standards of care, such as gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel.
In addition, Ivospemin has not been observed to exacerbate bone marrow suppression or peripheral neuropathy. However, serious visual adverse events have been evaluated and those with a history of retinopathy or at risk of retinal detachment will be excluded from further studies.
Thus, the safety data and PMI profile observed in the previous Panbela-sponsored clinical trials supports further exploration of Ivospemin in the ASPIRE trial.
Flynpovi ™
Flynpovi, a combination of CPP-1X (eflornithine) and sulindac, has shown tremendous promise in the treatment of pre-cancerous polyps. In a Phase 3 clinical trial, Flynpovi was found to reduce the incidence of these polyps by over 90% when compared to placebo.
Most notably, a recent Phase 3 trial comparing Flynpovi to single agent eflornithine and single agent sulindac demonstrated a statistically significant benefit for FAP patients with lower gastrointestinal tract anatomy.
These patients experienced a delay of up to four years in the need for surgical intervention. Furthermore, the safety profile of Flynpovi was comparable to that of the single agents, making it a safe and potentially effective treatment for FAP.
CPP-1X
CPP-1X (eflornithine) is an exciting new drug with the potential to revolutionize the treatment of a variety of conditions including gastric cancer, neuroblastoma, and Type 1 diabetes. Preclinical studies and clinical trials have demonstrated that CPP-1X is well-tolerated and has promising therapeutic effects. Now available in both a single agent tablet and a high dose powder sachet, CPP-1X may offer a new option for those seeking relief from these serious ailments.
About Panbela
Panbela Therapeutics, Inc. is a revolutionary biopharmaceutical company striving to bring life-changing therapies to patients who desperately need them. At the forefront of their pipeline are two groundbreaking treatments: Ivospemin (SBP-101) and Flynpovi. By developing these innovative treatments, Panbela is dedicated to improving the lives of those with urgent unmet medical needs.