Two clinical trials which could save lives through new therapies to treat breast cancers that have low rates of survival have been funded, thanks to the Morrison Government.
Tragically, young women diagnosed with breast cancer have a higher rate of recurrence and death from the disease.
To combat this, researchers at the University of Melbourne have conducted a genomic analysis of breast cancer samples from women under 45 years of age. They have identified a new drug target that may improve the prognosis for these young women.
The Morrison Government is directing more than $4.9 million to the researchers to evaluate these new therapies in a clinical trial.
In addition, researchers at the University of New South Wales have turned their attention to treatment resistant triple-negative breast cancer, where new therapies are urgently needed to improve survival rates.
The researchers discovered that blocking what’s called an androgen receptor prevents and treats chemotherapy-resistant triple-negative breast cancer. Pre-clinical models have shown that, when combined with chemotherapy, overall survival rates are significantly improved.
The researchers will use almost $670,000 in Government funding to test this new therapy in a clinical trial.
The funding for both of these trials has been provided through the Medical Research Future Fund’s (MRFF) Rare Cancers, Rare Diseases and Unmet Need (RCRDUN) clinical trials initiative.
There are limited effective treatment options for many rare cancers and diseases, and the combined health burden is significant.
Through RCRDUN, the Government is increasing trial activity in Australia, supporting high quality research and encouraging novel and innovative treatments.
The two projects announced today are a small part of the 2021 RCRDUN grant program. A further 6 streams are being assessed and recipients will be announced in due course.
The $20 billion MRFF is a long-term investment supporting Australia’s best and brightest researchers. Further information about the MRFF is available at www.health.gov.au/mrff
MRFF 2021 Clinical Trials Activity – Rare Cancers, Rare Diseases and Unmet Need (RCRDUN) Grant Opportunity – Stream 2
| Project | Recipient | Funding |
| 4CAST: A phase I/II study evaluating the safety and efficacy of VT-464 in combination with chemotherapy in patients with metastatic breast cancer | University of New South Wales | $668,444.00 |
| Addressing the poor outcomes of young women with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative (HR+HER2-) early breast cancer | University of Melbourne | $4,909,215.00 |
| Total | $5,577,659.00 | |