A novel drug targeting advanced prostate cancer has received a significant funding boost, bringing hope to patients with limited treatment options. The University of Queensland announced that QED-203, a first-in-class drug developed based on research by Professor Greg Monteith, has been awarded $1.25 million from the US-based Critical Path Institute's Translational Therapeutics Accelerator (TRxA).
The funding will accelerate the development of this promising therapy for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), a condition affecting approximately 280,000 men worldwide each year.
Novel Mechanism Targets Therapy-Resistant Disease
QED-203 is being developed by the Queensland Emory Drug Discovery Initiative (QEDDI), the small molecule drug discovery arm of UniQuest, the university's commercialization company. The drug's unique mode of action specifically targets advanced prostate cancer that has become resistant to current therapies.
Professor Monteith, an expert on calcium signaling in cancer from UQ's School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, began research on this specific target nearly 15 years ago.
"It is very exciting to have worked with QEDDI scientists who have developed this first-in-class drug that now has the potential to better treat prostate cancers that have become resistant to current therapies," said Professor Monteith.
The drug's mechanism appears particularly relevant for treating patients with advanced disease who have exhausted other treatment options, potentially offering a new therapeutic approach for this challenging condition.
Funding to Advance Preclinical Development
Dr. Brian Dymock, Head of QEDDI, emphasized the significance of the TRxA funding: "This funding will enable us to conduct key drug manufacturing and safety studies, bringing QED-203 significantly closer to becoming a novel therapeutic option for patients who would otherwise have very limited treatment options."
The $1.25 million investment will support critical preclinical studies, process optimization, drug substance manufacturing, and safety evaluations—all necessary steps before QED-203 can potentially advance to human clinical trials.
Addressing an Unmet Medical Need
Prostate cancer remains the most common cancer among men worldwide. While early-stage prostate cancer has relatively good treatment outcomes, advanced disease presents significant challenges. Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer occurs when the cancer spreads beyond the prostate and continues to grow despite treatments that lower testosterone levels.
Dr. Maaike Everts, TRxA Executive Director, highlighted the potential impact of QED-203: "We are excited to support this groundbreaking research that has the potential to significantly impact the treatment landscape for advanced prostate cancer."
The drug aims to improve both survival and quality of life for patients with mCRPC who have exhausted all available treatment options, addressing a critical unmet need in cancer care.
From Laboratory Discovery to Clinical Development
The journey of QED-203 represents a promising example of translational medicine, taking fundamental research discoveries from the laboratory toward potential clinical applications. Professor Monteith's initial work on calcium signaling mechanisms in cancer has evolved through QEDDI's drug development expertise into a candidate therapy approaching clinical evaluation.
The Arizona-based Critical Path Institute's Translational Therapeutics Accelerator focuses on supporting academic scientists in advancing new therapeutics from laboratory research to patient treatments. This funding represents a significant vote of confidence in the potential of QED-203 to address the challenges of advanced prostate cancer treatment.
With this financial support, the QEDDI team, including Drug Discovery Team Leader Dr. Kim Beaumont and Medicinal Chemistry Team Leader Dr. Rebecca Pouwer, will continue their work to bring this innovative therapy closer to clinical trials and potentially to patients who urgently need new treatment options.
