Bionomics Achieves Key Milestones in Drug Discovery Programs

Australian drugmaker Bionomics has updated the progress of its cancer drug BNC105 and anxiety candidate BNC210.

Bionomics submitted an investigational new drug (IND) application for BNC105 in October and is on track to begin clinical trials later this year. The drug is a vascular disrupting agent that shuts down the blood supply to a tumor.

The company also reported that lead anxiety candidate BNC210 demonstrated results in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder. Preclinical studies showed the effectiveness of BNC210 when compared with diazepam, the active ingredient of Valium.

Deborah Rathjen, Bionomic’s CEO, said the company is on track to complete IND-enabling studies for BNC210 by early 2009.