Australian ovarian cancer breakthrough enters human trials

Prof John Hooper (image courtesy: Uniquest)

The Australian National Imaging Facility and Therapeutic Innovation Australia have supported development of a promising new ovarian cancer drug from early-stage development, through preclinical studies and now its first in-human studies.

Ovarian cancer is dubbed ‘the silent killer’ due to its vague early symptoms and late diagnosis – resulting in a high mortality rate – and this is compounded by a lack of new drugs and clinical developments. But researchers are driven to make a difference for this disease, and the nearly 2,000 women diagnosed each year in Australia. Professor John Hooper (Cancer Biology Research Group leader, Mater Research Institute) and multiple research teams have worked for decades to develop 10D7, an enigmatically named beacon of hope for advanced and early-stage ovarian cancer patients – and potentially for those with other cancers, too.

Enabled by national research facilities and the rich multidisclipinary collaborations across the country, this is an Australian success story from the initial discovery of the antibody to the first in-human trials.

“Having national research facilities available has been a game changer – places like the National Imaging Facility, the National Biologics Facility, Therapeutic Innovation Australia, and the Herston Imaging Research Facility,” says Prof Hooper.

The 10D7 antibody clinical-development process has traveled through the entire translational process for health innovation. All the steps through to human trials have been done in Australia, apart from one toxicology experiment overseas. The national capabilities enable a seamless process without needing outside facilities.

Read the full story from the National Imaging Facility here.