Kazia Therapeutics announces publication of preclinical research on paxalisib

Kazia Therapeutics (KZIA) announced the publication of transformative preclinical research in the journal Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research that underscores the powerful potential of its lead asset, paxalisib, for the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive and treatment-resistant cancer subtypes. The preclinical program was conducted by Professor Sudha Rao at the renowned QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, revealing how paxalisib can reprogram the tumor microenvironment and enhance immune response, showing substantial synergy with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Key Findings include: Dual targeting of PI3K and mTOR but not PI3K alone inhibits cancer cell proliferation and migration in vitro; Paxalisib remodels the TNBC tumor microenvironment, increasing CD4+ and CD8+ T cell infiltration and activation; The combination of paxalisib with KEYTRUDA demonstrated synergistic antitumor activity in advanced breast cancer, resulting in robust tumor regression and prolonged survival in preclinical models; The data validate a mechanistic rationale for ongoing clinical exploration of paxalisib in combination with checkpoint inhibitors and PARP inhibitors. Kazia recently announced that the first patient has been dosed in the Phase 1b trial evaluating paxalisib in combination with checkpoint inhibitors and chemotherapy in advanced breast cancer, marking a critical step toward clinical translation of these findings.