Kazia Therapeutics Updates on TNBC Clinical Trial Progress
Kazia Therapeutics provided a clinical update from its ongoing Phase 1b study evaluating paxalisib in combination with pembrolizumab and chemotherapy in patients with late-stage, metastatic triple-negative breast cancer, or TNBC. To date, three patients with metastatic TNBC treated with paxalisib-based regimens have demonstrated meaningful clinical responses, including two partial responses in trial participants and one confirmed complete metabolic response in a patient treated under an expanded access program. 2 of 2 evaluable patients enrolled in the Phase 1b trial achieved partial responses. One advanced metastatic TNBC patient achieved a confirmed complete metabolic response following re-treatment with pembrolizumab/chemotherapy plus paxalisib. Responses observed in patients with visceral disease and multi-organ metastases. Median time on treatment to date is approximately 6.1 months, with all patients continuing on therapy at the time of this update. Paxalisib continues to demonstrate a generally favorable safety and tolerability profile when combined with pembrolizumab and chemotherapy at the 30 mg daily dose. Approximately 75% of adverse events were assessed as unlikely or unrelated to paxalisib. The paxalisib-related AEs were expected and predominantly mild to moderate, consistent with prior studies. The company expects to activate two additional clinical sites by April 2026, with two further sites planned for mid-2026. Kazia continues to anticipate the targeted enrollment of twelve TNBC pts target by the end of 2026 and topline data readout in early 2027.
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- Significant Tumor Volume Reduction: In murine triple-negative breast cancer preclinical models, NDL2 as a monotherapy reduced primary tumor volume by 49%, demonstrating its efficacy and potential as a standalone treatment option for future therapies.
- Combined Therapy Effectiveness: When combined with anti-PD-1 therapy, NDL2 reduced primary tumor volume by 73%, indicating that this combination therapy has significant potential to enhance anti-tumor activity and improve patient outcomes.
- Positive Results in Lung Metastasis Patients: In patients with lung metastases, the combination of NDL2 and anti-PD-1 therapy resulted in a 50% reduction in primary tumor volume, providing new hope for treating metastatic cancer and potentially altering clinical treatment strategies.
- Positive Market Reaction: Kazia Therapeutics' shares rose over 6% in pre-market trading on Friday, reflecting investor optimism regarding the new data on NDL2 and indicating strong market confidence in the company's future prospects.
- Novel Therapeutic Target: Kazia Therapeutics announces NDL2 as the first nuclear PD-L1 degrader, targeting a previously unaddressed mechanism of immunotherapy resistance, potentially transforming cancer treatment paradigms.
- Significant Efficacy Data: In murine triple-negative breast cancer models, NDL2 reduced primary tumor volume by 49% as monotherapy and 73% in combination with anti-PD-1, demonstrating its robust anti-tumor activity.
- Safety and Pharmacokinetics: NDL2 showed no toxicity in preclinical trials, preserving immune checkpoint function at the cell surface, indicating its potential safety and efficacy in clinical applications.
- Future Development Outlook: Kazia plans to initiate first-in-human clinical trials in 2027 targeting immunotherapy-refractory solid tumors, with NDL2's development expected to create strategic partnership opportunities and long-term value.
- Clinical Trial Progress: Kazia Therapeutics reports significant clinical responses in its ongoing Phase 1b trial for late-stage metastatic triple-negative breast cancer, with three patients showing meaningful responses, including two partial responses and one complete metabolic response, indicating the potential of paxalisib.
- Funding Support: In December 2025, Kazia raised approximately $46.5 million to support the continued clinical development of paxalisib, with plans to enroll twelve TNBC patients by the end of 2026, further advancing its research efforts.
- Safety and Tolerability: Paxalisib, when combined with pembrolizumab and chemotherapy at a daily dose of 30 mg, has demonstrated a favorable safety profile, with only one case of Grade 1 hyperglycemia observed, requiring no intervention, suggesting a relatively low risk for this treatment regimen.
- Future Plans: Kazia anticipates activating two additional clinical sites by April 2026, with plans for two more by mid-2026, aiming to accelerate patient recruitment and target topline data readout in early 2027, showcasing its strategic positioning in breast cancer treatment.
- Significant Clinical Responses: In the ongoing Phase 1b trial, three patients with late-stage metastatic triple-negative breast cancer treated with paxalisib demonstrated meaningful clinical responses, including two partial responses and one confirmed complete metabolic response, indicating the potential efficacy of this therapy.
- Trial Design and Patient Selection: This multi-center, open-label randomized study, initiated in June 2025, aims to evaluate the safety and preliminary efficacy of paxalisib in combination with standard treatment regimens, with eligibility requiring PD-L1 positive disease, ensuring scientific rigor and clinical relevance.
- Adverse Event Monitoring: Approximately 75% of adverse events reported during treatment were assessed as unrelated to paxalisib, with most being mild to moderate, demonstrating the drug's good tolerability and laying a foundation for future clinical applications.
- Future Development Plans: Kazia plans to activate two additional clinical trial sites by April 2026 and anticipates enrolling 12 patients by the end of 2026, further advancing paxalisib's application in broader breast cancer populations, showcasing the company's long-term commitment to this field.
- Strategic Conference Participation: Kazia Therapeutics CEO John Friend will attend the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference next week in San Francisco to connect with existing and prospective investors and strategic partners, thereby enhancing the company's investor relations and business development efforts.
- Post-Financing Momentum: Following a successful financing round, Kazia is well-capitalized to execute on multiple near-term catalysts, including an anticipated clinical and biomarker update for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) by the end of the month, which will enhance the company's competitiveness in oncology.
- Clinical Update Expectations: Kazia expects to provide an update on its ongoing Phase 1b trial for TNBC by the end of January, potentially including expanded analyses of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and CTC clusters, thereby supporting paxalisib's potential impact on metastatic disease biology with more clinical data.
- New Drug Development Progress: Kazia plans to provide the first update on its potential first-in-class PD-L1 protein degrader program, aimed at leveraging a novel mechanism to address challenges in immune-based cancer therapies, further advancing the company's innovative capabilities in cancer treatment.

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