Anticancer gel to undergo accelerated testing

Published: 7-Feb-2006

Human testing of a fast-acting skin cancer gel developed by Australian company Peplin is to be accelerated after the company raised A$10m from institutional investors.


Human testing of a fast-acting skin cancer gel developed by Australian company Peplin is to be accelerated after the company raised A$10m from institutional investors.

The Queensland biotech company is developing the compound PEP005 as a potential treatment for sun spots, or actinic keratosis. 'A sufferer will take a prescription to a pharmacist, receive this neat little product, rub it on for a few days and watch the resolution of new lesions,' said ceo Michael Aldridge. 'We expect to begin the next stage of testing the gel shortly, which involving concurrent clinical trials in both Australia and the US.'

Peplin raised A$10m in funds from institutional investors in December after its latest round of tests, involving 60 patients, showed the gel cleared 71% of sun spot lesions in two days. Sun spots are usually removed with liquid nitrogen, although a range of longer-term application creams are available.

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