Acadra™ for the treatment of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL)
Product information: B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL) is a haematological cancer where there is an excess of B-cells. B-CLL is the most frequently occurring type of leukaemia in the Western world and accounts for about 40% of all leukaemias in those over 65 years of age however, it is very rare in those below the age of 30 years. It follows an extremely variable course with overall survival times ranging from months to decades. B-CLL is considered incurable but temporary remission can be achieved with chemotherapies that kill B-cells. However, current chemotherapies are also toxic to T-cells which help protect the body from infection and patients with depleted T-cells are at risk of life-threatening infection.
Conversely, Acadra™ has been shown to induce cell death in B-cells taken from healthy subjects and patients with B-CLL, with little effect on T-cells. Thus it is anticipated that patients treated with Acadra™ will have a reduced risk of serious infections compared to those on current chemotherapies.
Technology: Acadesine (nucleoside analogue)
Mechanisms of action: induces cell death in B-cells with little effect on T-cells
Incidence: 21,000 per annum worldwide*
Market opportunity: >US$200 million worldwide*
*Protherics estimates
Acadra fact sheet