Anti-skin Cancer Drug Effective Against Other Cancers

Peplin Biotech's anti-skin cancer drug has been found effective against blood, kidney and other cancers in a "bolt out of the blue" finding by the world's leading independent cancer organisation.

The American National Cancer Institute, which has an annual budget of more than $8 billion, will sponsor further study into the Brisbane-based company's breakthrough compound PEP005.

Of the 70,000 molecules studied by the NCI over the past decade, only 5 per cent have made it to the same stage reached by the Peplin drug this week.

NCI has participated in the development of more than 50 per cent of the anti-cancer dugs used by oncologists for cancer chemotherapy.

Earlier work by Peplin had shown high potency against certain breast cancer and prostate cancer cell lines as well as melanomas. The US institute confirmed low concentrations of the drug were very active against a range of cancer cells.

Courier Mail, 31 May