Propanc Biopharma, Inc.
For the period ended Jun 30, 2025. Filed Sep 29, 2025.
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FY2025 · Filed Sep 29, 2025
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Item 1. Business
General
As used in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, references to the “Company,” “Propanc,” “we,” “our,” and “us” refer to Propanc Biopharma, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiary, unless otherwise indicated. In addition, references to our “financial statements” are to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K except as the context otherwise requires.
We prepare our consolidated financial statements in United States dollars and in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles as applied in the United States, (“U.S. GAAP”). In this Annual Report on Form 10-K, references to “$” and “dollars” are to United States dollars.
Overview
We are a biopharmaceutical company developing a novel approach to prevent recurrence and metastasis from solid tumors by using pancreatic proenzymes that target and eradicate cancer stem cells in patients suffering from pancreatic, ovarian and colorectal cancers. Our novel proenzyme therapy is based on the science that enzymes stimulate biological reactions in the body, especially enzymes secreted by the pancreas. These pancreatic enzymes could represent the body’s primary defense against cancer.
Our lead product candidate, PRP, is a variation upon our novel formulation and involves proenzymes, the inactive precursors of enzymes. As a result of positive early indications of the anti-cancer effects of our technology, we have conducted successful pre-clinical studies on PRP and commenced preparation for a clinical study in advanced cancer patients. Subject to us receiving sufficient financing, we plan to begin our Investigational Medicinal Product Dossier, study proposal and Investigator’s Brochure in 2025. Our plan is to then commence our study preparation process with the contract research organization (“CRO”), analytical lab and trial site(s) selection and to begin our clinical trial application for PRP (“CTA”) compilation in the first calendar quarter of 2026 and complete the CTA compilation and submit the CTA in the first half of the 2026 calendar year. In the second calendar quarter of 2026, we plan to begin the preparation of logistics and trial site initiation visits. Subject to raising additional sufficient capital, we subsequently plan to commence a First-In-Human (“FIH”), Phase Ib study in patients with advanced solid tumors, evaluating the safety, pharmacokinetics and anti-tumor efficacy of PRP in the second half of the 2026 calendar year, which study we hope to complete within twelve months thereafter. We intend to develop our PRP to treat early-stage cancer and pre-cancerous diseases and as a preventative measure for patients at risk of developing cancer based on genetic screening.
PRP is an intravenous injection proenzyme treatment designed as a therapeutic option in cancer treatment and prevention. PRP is a combination of pancreatic proenzymes, trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen. PRP produces multiple effects on cancerous cells intended to inhibit tumor growth and potentially stop a tumor from spreading through the body.
We received notification from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) in June 2017 that PRP had been conferred Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. This special status is granted when a rare disease or condition is implicated, and a potential treatment qualifies under the Orphan Drug Act and applicable FDA regulations.
We received a Certificate for Advance Overseas Finding from the Board of Innovation and Science Australia to receive an up to a 43.5% “cash back” benefit from overseas research and development (“R&D”) expenses. The finding relates to the planned Phase Ib clinical trial – Multiple Ascending Dose Studies of proteolytic proenzymes for the treatment of advanced cancer patients suffering from solid tumors planned to be conducted at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia. Overseas activities to be undertaken include the development of an analytical assay for the quantification of active pharmaceutical ingredients (“API”) in PRP and its manufacture of the finished product for the Phase Ib clinical trial.
Our POP1 joint research and drug discovery program (“POP1 Program”) is designed to produce a backup clinical compound to PRP. With the aim of producing large quantities of trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen for commercial use, exhibiting minimal variation between lots and without sourcing the proenzymes from animals, we are undertaking a research project in collaboration with the universities of Jaén and Granada. We entered into a second two-year joint research and collaboration agreement with the University of Jaén, which concluded successfully late 2024. A third agreement is planned for the next three years for future joint drug discovery research activities designed to produce a new compound which enhances the anti-cancer effects of proenzymes and consequently introduces a new therapeutic drug class for the treatment and prevention of metastatic cancer.
Our Focus
Cancer occurs when cells in the body start to divide quickly and uncontrollably with an ability to migrate from one location and spread to distant sites. A cell becomes cancerous when it becomes undifferentiated. The cell forgets to do its job and invests all its energy in proliferating. Unlike normal cells, cancer cells multiply, but do not differentiate.
Common cancer therapies take advantage of the uncontrolled proliferation of the cancer cells and kill these cells by targeting the cell division machinery. These therapies are effective but affect healthy cells as well, particularly those with a high rate of cell turnover, inducing undesirable side effects.
Our goal is to stop cancer not by targeting tumor cell death but inducing cell differentiation. This is known as differentiation therapy. The key focus is to convince the malignant cells to stop proliferating and return to do their work as a specific cell type. Differentiation therapy does not target cell death, so healthy cells within the patient will not be compromised, unlike chemotherapeutic drugs or gamma irradiation.
Differentiation therapy induces the cancer cells into the pathway of terminal differentiation and eventual senescence (i.e., a non-proliferative state). Differentiation therapy acts not only against cancer cells but interestingly can turn cancer stem cells (undifferentiated cells) towards completely differentiated (i.e., normal) cells.
There are natural elements within our body that could help us fight against cancer. Enzymes are natural proteins that stimulate and accelerate biological reactions in the body. Particularly, enzymes secreted by the exocrine pancreas are essential for the digestion of proteins and fats. More than one hundred years ago, Professor John Beard first proposed that pancreatic enzymes represent the body’s primary defense against cancer and would be useful as a cancer treatment. Since then, several scientists have endorsed Professor Beard´s hypothesis with encouraging data from patient treatment.
We are developing a long-term therapy based on a pancreatic proenzyme formulation to prevent tumor recurrence and metastasis, the main cause of patient death from cancer. PRP is a novel, patented, formulation consisting of two proenzymes mixed in a synergetic ratio.
After extensive laboratory research and a limited amount of human data, we have evidence that PRP:
| ● | Reduces cancer cell growth via promotion of cell differentiation; |
| ● | Enhances cell adhesion and may suppress metastasis progression; |
| ● | Exhibits no observable serious side effects and improves patient survival; |
| ● | Alters the external microenvironment of malignant tumors, preventing tumors from returning and spreading. |
PRP
PRP is a mixture of two proenzymes, trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen from bovine pancreas administered by intravenous injection. A synergistic ratio of 1:6 inhibits growth of most tumor cells. Examples include kidney, ovarian, breast, brain, prostate, colorectal, lung liver, uterine and skin cancers.
Mechanism Of Action
Metastasis occurs because a program inside the cell, called the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (“EMT”) is activated, which causes epithelial cancer cells to become invasive and stem cell-like, features which then allow these cancer cells to spread and metastasize. PRP reverses the conversion from an epithelial to a mesenchymal phenotype and, as such, may reduce the metastatic potential of the tumor cells. PRP also promotes the acquisition of a less malignant phenotype, in addition to a decrease in proliferation due to lineage (i.e., direct descent) specific cellular differentiation.
Selectivity
PRP treatment affects the Transforming Growth Factor Beta (“TGFβ”) pathway, a significant tumor promoter in late-stage cancer by inducing tumor cell migration and stimulating the EMT program. The likely molecular targets are proteinase-activated-receptors (“PAR”) type 1 and 2, which are over frequently overexpressed in many types of cancers. Trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen are activated by proteases in the extracellular matrix of tumor cells. In turn, trypsin (activated trypsinogen) has a preference to activate PAR-2, whilst Chymotrypsin (activated chymotrypsinogen) mainly activates PAR-1.
Effects Against Cancer Stem Cells
Cancer stem cells are resistant to standard treatments because they remain dormant for long periods, then migrate to other organs, and trigger explosive tumor growth, causing the patient to relapse. Approximately eighty percent of cancers are from solid tumors and metastasis is the main cause of patient death. Our unique patented approach is designed to target and eradicate cancer stem cells not killed by radiation or chemotherapy.
PRP is designed to target and eradicate cancer stem cells not killed by radiation or chemotherapy. Traditional cancer therapies act on tumor replicating cells, but not cancer stem cells, so they can rebuild the tumor mass and can migrate to start a new tumor in another organ. PRP stops cancer stem cells so that a tumor loses the ability to generate new cells and therefore the tumor disappears with no option to form a metastatic tumor elsewhere.
PRP treatment regulates up to four relevant intracellular pathways related to cancer spread and metastasis of cancer stem cells. – the TGFβ, Hippo, Wnt and Notch pathways. It promotes the up-regulation of RAC1b, which avoids the hyper-activation of the p38 pathway induced by the TGFβ pathway, leading to the phosphorylation of yes-associated protein (YAP), which sequesters B-catenin in the cytoplasm, blocking the canonical Wnt pathway and inhibiting the Notch pathway. This cascade of reactions implies the disruption of the cancer stem cell phenotype and the reversal of the malignant epithelial to mesenchymal transition process that leads to tumor invasion.
PRP Impairs Niche Formation and Tumor Initiation
The proenzyme treatment inhibits the expression of genes related to the cancer stem cell phenotype, changing these malignant cells toward a more differentiated and less dangerous cellular condition. PRP interferes with the signals that the primary tumor sends to other tissues to prepare the pre-metastatic niche. Several assays, in vitro and in vivo studies confirm that PRP exerts an anti-tumor effect and acts selectively against all malignant, or tumor elements without affecting the non-tumor microenvironment and preventing its malignification.
In Vivo Efficacy of PRP In Pancreatic and Ovarian Tumors
The effect of the pro-enzyme formulation PRP at different doses on tumor weight in orthotopically implanted pancreatic and ovary tumors was evaluated. In the pancreatic tumor model, there was significant (*P < 0.05) reduction in mean tumor weight in animals treated for 26 days with trypsinogen/chymotrypsinogen at 83.3/500 mg/kg (30.2 mg; 85.9% inhibition) compared with control (PBS; 214.8 mg). Furthermore, ovary tumor-bearing mice showed a significant (*P < 0.05) reduction in mean tumor weight in animals treated for 21 days with two different doses of trypsinogen/chymotrypsinogen, 9.1/54 mg/kg and 27.5/165 mg/kg, compared with control (PBS). The mean weight of control group tumors was 2062.2 mg while the treated groups presented a mean tumor weight of 1074.2 mg and 957.3 respectively, ranging in a 50% tumor inhibition (52–46%).
Overview Of Clinical Studies
The clinical efficacy of a suppository formulation containing bovine pancreatic pro-enzymes trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen was evaluated in the context of a UK Pharmaceuticals Special Scheme at the Dove Clinic in Hampshire, UK by Dr. Julian Kenyon, the Company’s Chief Scientific Officer, and the results were published by the Company in a peer-reviewed journal, Scientific Reports, on behalf of Dr. Kenyon. Clinical effects were studied in 46 patients with advanced metastatic cancers of different origin (prostate, breast, ovarian, pancreatic, colorectal, stomach, non-small cell lung, bowel cancer and melanoma) after treatment with a rectal formulation of both pancreatic pro-enzymes. Patients were treated daily with a rectal formulation containing 8.92 mg of each of the two pancreatic pro-enzymes and 1.78 mg α-Amylase (A) per suppository. The study was carried out under a UK “Specials” License at the Dove Clinic, Hampshire, UK for periods up to 14 months.
No severe or serious adverse events related to the rectal administration were observed. Patients did not experience any hematological side effects as typically seen with classical chemotherapy regimens. No allergic reactions after rectal administration of suppositories were observed.
In order to assess the therapeutic activity of rectal administration, overall survival of patients under treatment was compared to the life expectancy assigned to a patient prior to treatment start. 19 of 46 patients (41.3%) with advanced malignant diseases, most of them suffering from metastases, had a survival time significantly longer than expected; in fact, for the whole set of cancer types, mean survival (9.0 months) was significantly higher than mean life expectation (5.6 months). Although the number of patients per cancer indication is naturally quite low, 3 out of 8 patients with prostate cancer and 5 out of 11 patients with gastrointestinal cancers appear to particularly benefit from the treatment with the proenzyme suppositories.
PRP proves to be an in vivo effective and non-toxic anti-tumor treatment, able to inhibit angiogenesis and tumor growth, cancer cell migration and invasiveness. Furthermore, a suppository formulation containing both pancreatic proenzymes increased the life expectancy of advanced cancer patients. Consequently, we believe that PRP could have relevant oncological clinical applications for the treatment of solid tumors like advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma and advanced epithelial ovarian cancer.
| Cancer Type | Life Expectation (months) | Survival ** (months) |
|---|---|---|
| Pancreatic carcinoma (n = 4) | 2 | 8 |
| 4 | * | |
| <3 | 7 | |
| <3 | 4 | |
| Ovarian Cancer (n = 7) | 4 | 11 |
| 6 | 12 | |
| 6 | 11 | |
| <12 | 38 | |
| <1 | 1 | |
| 4 | * | |
| 3 | * | |
| Breast Cancer (n = 6) | 6 | 9 |
| 6 | * | |
| 2 | * | |
| 12 | * | |
| <12 | * | |
| 12 | * | |
| Colon Rectal Cancer (n = 5) | 6 | * |
| 6 | * | |
| 12 | * | |
| 6 | 40 | |
| 12 | * | |
| Gastric Cancer (n = 2) | 2 | 8 |
| <3 | 7 | |
| Prostate Cancer (n = 8) | 4 | * |
| 1 | 5 | |
| 4 | * | |
| <12 | * | |
| 12 | 14 | |
| 12 | * | |
| 12 | * | |
| 12 | * | |
| Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (n = 1) | 2 | 9 |
| Mesothelioma (n = 1) | 3 | 9 |
| Melanoma (n = 2) | 6 | * |
| <3 | 4 | |
| Neuro-endocrine Tumor (n = 1) | 10 | 24 |
| Bladder (n = 2) | <3 | * |
| 12 | * | |
| NSCLS (n = 2) | 3 | 5 |
| 6 | * | |
| Bowel (n = 2) | <12 | * |
| <3 | 3 | |
| Small Cell Carcinoma (n = 1) | <12 | * |
| Renal Cancer (n = 1) | <3 | * |
| Abdomen unknown primary (n = 1) | <12 | * |
An overview of clinical results. Patients who met prognosis of life expectation (). For the whole set of cancer types, mean survival (9.0 months) was statistically significantly higher than mean life expectation (5.6 months). One way ANOVA (analysis of variance) (α = 0.05, P < 0.05).*
POP1 Joint Research and Drug Discovery Program
The POP1 Program is designed to produce a backup clinical compound to PRP, which is targeting metastatic cancer from solid tumors. According to an Emergen Research report published in January 2022, the global metastatic cancer market is projected to reach $111 billion by 2027.
To date, recombinant trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen have been synthesized and purified in the laboratory. In the case of trypsinogen, the initial success of producing trypsinogen synthetically has advanced to the stage where optimization of protein production is underway. Whereas purification and yield of chymotrypsinogen is currently the focus of research.
A synthetic version of trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen could have additional benefits to the global healthcare system that could further capitalize on the new therapeutic approach to treating cancer that PRP offers to cancer sufferers. For example, both proenzymes are synthesized by an in vivo (living organism) system to produce crystalized proteins that could be maintained for long periods without suffering degradation, even in the absence of refrigeration. This will be particularly useful for a longer shelf-life as well as global distribution of the drug product, particularly in warmer climates and developing regions where refrigeration may not be available. The program’s joint researchers at the universities of Jaén and Granada are currently collaborating with the Institute of Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology, at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna, Austria, and are working towards full scale manufacture of a synthetic recombinant formulation to PRP.
PRP Target Indications
The management of cancer differs widely, with a multitude of factors impacting the choice of treatment strategy. Some of those factors include:
| ● | the type of tumor, usually defined by the tissue in the body from which it originated; |
| ● | the extent to which it has spread beyond its original location; |
| ● | the availability of treatments, driven by multiple factors including cost, drugs approved, local availability of suitable facilities, etc.; |
| ● | regional and geographic differences; |
| ● | whether the primary tumor is amenable to surgery, either as a potentially curative procedure, or as a palliative one; and |
| ● | the balance between potential risks and potential benefits from the various treatments and, probably most importantly, the patient’s wishes. |
For many patients with solid cancers, such as breast, ovarian, colorectal, lung and pancreatic cancer, surgery is frequently the first treatment option, often followed by first-line chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy. While the hope is that such procedures are curative, in many instances the tumor returns, and second-line treatment strategies are chosen to achieve a degree of control over the tumor. In most instances, the benefit is temporary, and eventually the point is reached where the patient’s tumor either fails to respond to treatment adequately, or the treatment has unacceptable toxicity that severely limits its usefulness.
Should the planned Phase I, II and III clinical trials confirm the efficacy of PRP, along with the favorable safety and tolerability profile suggested by pre-clinical studies conducted to date, we believe our product will have utility in several clinical situations including:
| 1. | In the early-stage management of solid tumors, most likely as part of a multi-pronged treatment strategy in combination with existing therapeutic interventions; |
| 2. | As a product that can be administered long term for patients following standard treatment approaches, such as surgery, or chemotherapy, to prevent or delay recurrence; and |
| 3. | As a preventative measure for patients at risk of developing cancer based on genetic screening. |
In the near-term and as part of our planned Phase I, II and III clinical trials, we plan to target patients with solid tumors, most likely ovarian and pancreatic, for whom other treatment options have been exhausted. This is a common approach by which most new drugs for cancer are initially tested. Once efficacy and safety have been demonstrated in this patient population, exploration of the potential utility of the drug in earlier stage disease can be undertaken, together with investigation of the drug’s utility in other types of cancers, such as gastro-esophageal tumors, colon or rectal carcinoma might be conducted. A Phase II study in a back-up indication, such as advanced therapy refractant prostate cancer, will also be considered. This indication is based on positive preclinical pharmacology studies.
Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal malignancies with a median survival of less than six months and a five-year survival rate of less than 5%. The lethal nature of this disease stems from its propensity rapidly to disseminate to the lymphatic system and distant organs. This aggressive biology and resistance to conventional and targeted therapeutic agents leads to a typical clinical presentation of incurable disease at the time of diagnosis.
Pancreatic cancer has claimed notoriety over the last decades by proving to be one of the most recalcitrant solid tumors. As an indicator of its lethality, pancreatic cancer accounts for less than 3% of new cancers diagnosed annually in developed countries; yet it is the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality.
Since pancreatic cancer is an essentially fatal condition, disease duration is roughly equivalent to survival time. The median time of survival of patients with pancreatic cancer depends on the extend of disease at the time of diagnosis and ranges from 11 to 20 months for patients who qualified for surgical resection (Stage I/II), to 6-11 months for patients with locally advanced disease (Stage III), and only two to six months for patients with metastatic disease (Stage IV) (Amikura 1995, Richter 2003). Taking these low survival times into consideration, yearly incidence rates for pancreatic cancer are considered the more relevant measure for this disease.
Each year the American Cancer Society estimates the numbers of new cancer cases and deaths that will occur in the United States in the current year and compiles the most recent data on cancer incidence, mortality, and survival. Incidence data are collected by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries (NAACCR). In 2020, it was estimated that a total of more than 1,806,590 new cancer cases and more than 606,520 cancer deaths occurred in the United States according to the National Cancer Institute. Amongst these, a total of almost 50,000 new cases of pancreatic cancer (3.2% of new cancer cases) were estimated, which resulted in more than 40,000 deaths (8.2% of cancer deaths). This means only 20% survival rate of patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer is a generic term that can be used for any cancer involving the ovaries, arising from one of the several different cell types of ovaries, including germ cells, specialized gonadal stromal cells and epithelial cells. Epithelial ovarian cancer accounts for approximately 90% of ovarian cancers and is responsible for most ovarian cancer related deaths. Furthermore, several subtypes of ovarian cancer have been described according to different risk factors, different genetic mutations, different biological behaviors and different prognoses. This heterogeneity of the disease has impeded progress in the prevention, early detection, treatment and management of ovarian cancer.
In 2020, ovarian cancer is the eighth most diagnosed cancer among women in the world and accounts for an estimated 313,959 new cases and 207,252 deaths worldwide (World Cancer Research Fund International)., In the USA, 19,880 new cases (2015 – 2019) and 12,810 related deaths (2016 – 2020) are estimated to occur (National Cancer Institute). The disease typically presents at late stage when the five-year relative survival rate is only 29%. Few cases (15%) are diagnosed with localized tumor (stage 1), when the five-year survival rate is 92%. Strikingly, the overall five-year relative survival rate generally ranges between 30% to 40% across the globe and has seen only very modest increases since 1995.
Current Therapies
We are developing a therapeutic solution for the treatment of patients with advanced stages of cancer targeting solid tumors, which is cancer that originates in organs or tissues other than bone marrow or the lymph system. Common cancer types classified as solid tumors include lung, colorectal, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer and liver cancers. In each of these indications, there is a large market opportunity to capitalize on the limitations of current therapies.
Current therapeutic options for the treatment of cancer offer, at most, a few months of extra life or tumor stabilization. Some experts believe that drugs that kill most tumor cells do not affect cancer stem cells, which can regenerate the tumor (e.g., chemotherapy). Studies reveal the genetic changes in cells that cause cancer and spur its growth. This research is providing scientific researchers with many potential targets for drugs. Tumor cells, however, can develop resistance to drugs.
Limitations of Current Therapies
PRP was developed because of the limitation of current cancer therapies. While surgery is often safe and effective for early-stage cancer, many standard therapies for late-stage cancer urgently need improvement; current treatments generally provide modest benefits and frequently cause significant adverse effects. Our focus is to provide oncologists and their patients with therapies for metastatic cancer which are more effective than current therapies, and which have a substantially reduced side effect profile.
While progress has been made within the oncology sector in developing new treatments, the overall cancer death rate has only improved by fifteen percent over the last 30 years. This is attributed to a reduction in smoking and an increase in 5-year survival rates for cancers.
Most of these new treatments have some limitations, such as:
| 1. | significant toxic effects; |
| 2. | expense; and |
| 3. | limited survival benefits. |
We believe that our treatment will provide a competitive advantage over the following treatments:
| ● | Chemotherapeutics: Side effects from chemotherapy can include pain, diarrhea, constipation, mouth sores, hair loss, nausea and vomiting, as well as blood-related side effects, which may include a low cell count of infection fighting white blood cells (neutropenia), low red blood cell count (anemia), and low platelet count (thrombocytopenia). Our goal is to demonstrate that our treatment will be more effective than chemotherapeutic and hormonal therapies with fewer side effects. |
| ● | Targeted therapies: The most common type is multi-targeted kinase inhibitors (molecules which inhibit a specific class of enzymes called kinases). Common side effects include fatigue, rash, hand-foot reaction, diarrhea, hypertension and dyspnea (shortness of breath). Further, tyrosine kinases inhibited by these drugs appear to develop resistance to inhibitors. While the clinical findings with PRP are early and subject to confirmation in future clinical trials, no evidence has yet been observed of the development of resistance by the cancer to PRP. |
| ● | Monoclonal antibodies: Development of monoclonal antibodies is often difficult due to safety concerns. Side effects that are most common include skin and gastro-intestinal toxicities. For example, several serious side effects from Avastin, an anti-angiogenic cancer drug, include gastrointestinal perforation and dehiscence (e.g., rupture of the bowel), severe hypertension (often requiring emergency treatment) and nephrotic syndrome (protein leakage into the urine). Antibody therapy can be applied to various cancer types but can also be limited to certain genetic sub-populations in many instances. |
| ● | Immunotherapy: There is a long history of attempts to develop therapeutic cancer vaccines to stimulate the body’s own immune system to attack cancer cells. While these products generally do not have the poor safety profile of standard therapeutic approaches, only a small number of them are FDA-approved and available compared to the number of patients diagnosed with cancer. Furthermore, only a relatively small number of the patient population is eligible to receive and subsequently respond to treatment, as defined by preventing tumor growth. |
PRP Development Strategy
Our goal is to foster early-stage clinical development of PRP to bring it to a significant value inflection point, where the commercial attractiveness of the drug in development, together with a greater likelihood of achieving market authorization, may attract potential interest from licensees seeking to acquire new products. Such value inflection points in the context of cancer drugs are typically at the point where formal, controlled clinical trials have demonstrated either “efficacy” or “proof of concept” – typically meaning that there is controlled clinical trial evidence that the drug is effective in the proposed target patient population, has an acceptable safety profile, and is suitable for further development. It is our intention to progress the development of our technology through the completion of our planned Phase IIa clinical trials and then to seek a licensee for further development beyond that point.
As part of that commercial strategy, we intend to:
| ● | continue research and development to build our existing intellectual property portfolio, and to seek new, patentable discoveries; |
| ● | seek to ensure all product development is undertaken in a manner that makes its products approvable in the major pharmaceutical markets, including the U.S., Europe, the UK, Australia and Japan; |
| ● | aggressively pursue the protection of our technology through all means possible, including patents in all major jurisdictions, and potentially trade secrets; and |
| ● | make strategic acquisitions to acquire new companies that have intellectual property or products that complement our future goals. |
PRP Development Plan and Milestones
We plan to progress PRP using a conventional early-stage clinical development pathway, which entails:
| ● | obtaining regulatory and/or ethics approval to conduct a Phase Ib study; and |
| ● | conducting Phase IIa multiple escalating dose studies to investigate the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of PRP administered intravenously to patients. |
Preclinical development of PRP has been completed, including pharmacology and safety toxicology studies, process development activities and bioanalytical method development. The full-scale good manufacturing practice (“GMP”) finished product manufacture of PRP will be completed in preparation for the FIH Phase Ib study. Validation of the bioanalytical method will also be completed prior to lodging our first CTA, which we plan to undertake at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia’s largest cancer hospital. We are collaborating with CROs, manufacturing partners and consultants to complete activities prior to preparing the CTA for the Phase Ib study.
We have received expressions of interest to evaluate proenzyme therapy as a method to prevent recurrence and metastasis of solid tumors in pancreatic and ovarian cancers. The letters of interest were confirmed by medical oncologists specializing in pancreatic and ovarian cancers, from the University Hospital of Jaén, in Granada, Spain. We believe that the evaluation will most likely be conducted as separate Phase IIa proof of concept, multi-trial center studies for each target indication. The expressions of interest were confirmed after their evaluation of our scientific literature supporting the use of proenzymes in pancreatic and ovarian cancers. The Phase Iia proof of concept studies will be conducted after the Phase Ib dose escalation study investigating the tolerability and activity of proenzyme therapy in patients with advanced solid tumors is completed at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.
In Australia, we receive an up to 43.5% “cash-back” benefit in the form of a refund of our qualified research and, development costs and expenses. We received a refund of $0 and $196,937 AUD ($129,132) for the years ended June 30, 2025, and 2024, respectively. We are continuing to evaluate all options to conduct our planned clinical trials in the most cost-efficient manner, while striving to minimize dilution to our stockholders.
We anticipate reaching the Phase Iia proof of concept milestone in approximately three to four years, subject to regulatory approval in US, Europe and Australia, and the results from our R&D and licensing activities.
Our overhead and expenses are likely to increase from its current level as PRP progresses down the development pathway. This increase will be driven by the need to increase our internal resources in order to effectively manage our research and development activities.
Anticipated timeline
In second calendar quarter of 2025, we anticipate the submission of the CTA for PRP. We anticipate receiving approval in the second half of the 2025 calendar year. Following the CTA approval, we plan to commence our study preparation process, including CRO Selection and Contracts, Analytical Lab Selection Contracts and Trial Sites Selection and Contracts. In connection with the CTA, this product will be part of our Investigation Medicinal Product Dossier, study protocol and Investigator’s Brochure. In the second half of the 2025 calendar year, we hope to complete the study preparation process together with the Preparation of Logistics and Trial Sites Initiation Visits and complete our CTA review. Commencing in the second half of the 2025 calendar year, we intend to initiate a Phase Ib study in advanced cancer patients with solid tumors and we anticipate costs to be approximately $6.5 million. We will need to raise additional financing to fund our planned Phase I, II and III clinical trials and for working capital.
| Research Activity | Timeline |
|---|---|
| CTA | November 2025 – April 2026 |
| Investigational Medicinal Product Dossier | |
| Phase Ib Clinical Study Protocol | |
| Investigator’s Brochure | |
| CTA Compilation | March 2026 – June 2026 |
| CTA Submission | June 2026 |
| CTA Approval | July 2026 |
| CTA Review | July 2026 – August 2026 |
| Contract Research Organization and Contracts | February 2026 – June 2026 |
| Analytical Laboratory Selection and Contracts | |
| Trial Site Selection and Contracts | |
| Preparation of Logistics | June 2026 – September 2026 |
| Trial Site Initiation Visits | |
| First Patient/First Visit | October 2026 |
Pop1 Joint Research and Drug Discovery Program
The POP1 Program has been established with our collaborators at the universities of Jaén and Granada to investigate the changes in genetic and protein expression that occur in cancer cells because of being exposed to our proenzyme formulation. The objective of this work is to understand at the molecular level the targets of our proenzyme formulation, thereby providing the opportunity for new, patentable drugs which can be developed further. We plan to commence a targeted drug discovery program utilizing the identified molecular target to search for novel anticancer agents.
The POP1 Program has produced synthetic recombinant versions of the two proenzymes, trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen. Our joint scientific researchers are developing a novel expression system and are also in the process of optimizing conditions to achieve high titers of recombinant trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen. Further, the anticancer effects of the synthetic versions will be tested against the naturally derived proenzymes from bovine origin.
Financial Objectives
Multiple factors, many of which are outside of our control, can impact our ability to achieve our target objectives within the planned time and budgetary constraints. Subject to these caveats, our objective is to complete our planned Phase IIa study for PRP within the proposed timeline.
We primarily outsource services, skills and expertise to third parties as required to achieve our scientific and corporate objectives. As the business grows and gains more personnel, outsourcing will continue to be the preferred model, where fixed and variable costs are carefully managed on a project-by-project basis. This means our R&D activities are carried out by third parties. Additional third parties with specific expertise in research, compound screening and manufacturing (including raw material suppliers) have been contracted as required.
Corporate Strategy
Our initial focus is to organize, coordinate and finance the various parts of our drug development pipeline. We intend to carefully introduce new personnel into our Company over time as our R&D activities expand. We plan for such personnel to have specific expertise in product development, manufacture and formulation, regulatory affairs, toxicology, clinical operations and business development (including intellectual property management, licensing and other corporate activities). Additional clinical management and development expertise will likely be required at the outset to assist with the development of PRP. Therefore, we anticipate hiring additional employees to effectively manage our contractors as our development activities progress.
This outsourcing strategy is common in the biotechnology sector and is an efficient way to obtain access to the necessary skills required to progress a project, as the required skills change as the project progresses from discovery, through manufacturing and non-clinical development and into clinical trials. We anticipate that we will continue to use this model, thereby retaining the flexibility to contract in the appropriate resource as and when required.
We intend to seek and identify potential licensing partners for our product candidates as they progress through the various development stages, reaching certain milestones and value inflection points. If a suitable licensee is identified, a potential licensing deal could consist of payments for certain milestones, plus royalties from future sales if the product is able to receive approval from the relevant regulatory authorities where future product sales are targeted. We intend to seek and identify potential licensees based on the initial efficacy data from Phase II clinical trials. To accomplish this objective, we have commenced discussions with potential partners in our current preclinical phase of development.
As part of our overall expansion strategy, from time to time, we investigate potential intellectual property acquisition opportunities to expand our product portfolio. While our initial focus is on the development of PRP as our lead product candidate, other potential product candidates may also be considered for future preclinical and clinical development. These potential opportunities have arisen from other research and development organizations, which either own existing intellectual property or are currently developing new intellectual property, which may be of interest to us. These opportunities are possible new cancer treatments that are potentially less toxic than existing treatment approaches and are able to fill an existing gap in the treatment process, such as a systemic de-bulking method which could reduce the size and threat of metastases to a more manageable level for late-stage cancer patients.
We believe such potential treatment approaches will be complementary to existing treatment regimens and PRP. No formal approaches regarding such other products have currently been made and it is unknown whether we will engage in any such discussion soon. However, as we further develop PRP within the development pathway, we intend to assess future opportunities that may arise to use the expertise of our management and scientific personnel for future prospective R&D projects.
Current Operations
We are at a pre-revenue stage. We do not know when, if ever, we will be able to commercialize any of our products and to begin to generate revenue. We are focusing our efforts on organizing, coordinating and financing the various aspects of our drug R&D program described herein. In order to commercialize any of our products, we must complete preclinical development, Phase Ib, IIa and IIb clinical trials in Europe, the U.S., UK, Australia or elsewhere, and satisfy the applicable regulatory authority that PRP is safe and effective. If the results from Phase II trials are convincing, we will seek conditional approval from the applicable regulatory authorities sooner. From the time we commence clinical trials for any product, we estimate it will take approximately three to four years if we seek conditional approval upon completion of Phase II trials. When we advance our development projects sufficiently down the development pathway and achieve a major increase in value, such as obtaining interim efficacy data from Phase II clinical trials, we will seek a suitable licensing partner to complete the remaining development activities, obtain regulatory approval and market the product.
Market Opportunity
The global metastatic cancer treatment market is predicted to reach $111 billion by 2027, according to a January 2022 report by Emergen Research. Demand for new cancer products can largely be attributed to a combination of a rapidly aging population in western countries and changing environmental factors, which together are resulting in rising cancer incidence rates. Worldwide, the World Health Organization estimated 19.3 million new cancer cases and almost 10 million cancer deaths occurred in 2020. As such, global demand for new cancer treatments which are effective, safe and easy to administer is rapidly increasing. Our treatment will potentially target many aggressive tumor types for which little or few treatment options exist.
We plan to target patients with solid tumors, most likely pancreatic and ovarian tumors, for whom other treatment options have been exhausted. Globally these cancers resulted in over 673,255 deaths combined in 2020, according to the World Health Organization. With such a high mortality rate, a substantial unmet medical need exists for new treatments. Once the efficacy and safety of PRP is demonstrated in late-stage patient populations, we plan to undertake exploration of the utility of the drug in earlier stage disease, together with investigation of the drug’s utility in other types of cancer.
Anticipated Market Potential
It is difficult to estimate the size of the market opportunity for this specific type of product as a clinically proven, pro-enzyme formulated suppository marketed to oncologists across global territories for specific cancer indications, to the best of management’s knowledge, has not been previously available. However, the markets for potential market for pancreatic and ovarian cancers may be characterized as follows:
| ● | The world market for pancreatic cancer drugs is projected to grow to $6.93 billion by the year 2030, according to Brainy Insights. Major players operating in the pancreatic cancer therapy market include Eli Lilly and Company, Roche Holding AG, Celgene Corporation, Amgen Inc., Novartis AG, Pharmacyte Biotech Inc., Clovis Oncology, Inc., Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Pfizer Inc., Merck & Co., Inc., among others. For instance, in May 2018, Eli Lilly and Company acquired AMRO BioSciences, Inc., which is engaged into number of drugs for cancer. developments performed by the companies are helping the market to grow in the coming years. |
| ● | The global market for ovarian cancer drugs expected to reach $13.9 billion by 2029, according to iHealthcareAnalyst. This will be driven by continued uptake and expected launches of the approved PARP (poly adenosine diphosphate-ribose polymerase) inhibitors. Major competitors operating in the global ovarian cancer treatment market include AbbVie Inc., AstraZeneca PLC (Acerta Pharma), Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., GSK plc (formerly, GlaxoSmithKline plc (Tesaro)), Gradalis, Inc., Incyte Corporation, MacroGenics, Inc., Oncotelic Therapeutics, Inc. (formerly, Mateon Therapeutics, Inc.), Merck & Co., Inc., Novartis AG, Kazia Therapeutics Limited (formerly, Novogen Limited), Vivesto AB (formerly, Oasmia Pharmaceutical AB), Pfizer Inc., Pharma Mar S.A., and Roche Holding AG. |
New products can be defined as addition-in-class, advance-in-class, or first-in-class, depending on their degree of innovation. Addition-in-class products, defined as new APIs with established mechanisms of action, are often clinically important and highly commercially successful. Advance-in-class product innovation, defined as significantly differentiated and innovative new APIs, albeit with established mechanisms of action, remains a highly attractive strategy. However, first-in-class innovation, defined as products with a molecular target and/or mechanism of action not found in any approved products globally, remains the key product development strategy in terms of providing the greatest degree of differentiation, extending to a first-mover advantage and potentially the capture of significant market share.
Based on the current situation for these two markets, we believe there is an attractive opportunity in both the pancreatic and ovarian cancer market sectors for the introduction of PRP as a first-in-class, clinically proven product which can achieve new benefits for patients in terms of survival and quality of life. The current concentration of products suggests oncologists may be willing to try newly approved products, particularly if they can exhibit a favorable safety profile, although substantive R&D activities will be necessary to both obtain regulatory approval, and to generate the clinical safety and efficacy data needed to convince clinicians to use a new product.
License Agreements
University of Bath Commercialization Agreement
We previously sponsored a collaborative research project at the University of Bath to investigate the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the potential clinical approach of our proprietary proenzyme formulation. As a result of this undertaking, we entered into a Commercialization Agreement with the University of Bath, dated November 12, 2009 (the “Commercialization Agreement”), where, initially, we held an exclusive license with the University of Bath, and where we and University of Bath co-owned the intellectual property relating to our proenzyme formulations. The Commercialization Agreement originally provided for University of Bath to assign the Patents (as defined therein) to Propanc in certain specified circumstances, such as successful completion of a clinical trial and commencement of a Phase II (proof of concept) clinical trial.
On June 14, 2012, we and the University of Bath agreed to an earlier assignment to us of the patents pursuant to an Assignment and Amendment Deed, on the provision that the University of Bath retains certain rights arising from the Commercialization Agreement, as follows:
| ● | The University of Bath reserves for itself (and its employees and students and permitted academic sub-licensees with respect to research use) the non-exclusive, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty free right to use the patents for research use; |
| ● | The publication rights of the University of Bath specified in the contract relating to the original research made between the parties with an effective date of July 18, 2008, will continue in force; |
| ● | We agreed to pay to the University of Bath a royalty of two percent of all net revenues; |
| ● | We agreed to use all reasonable endeavors to develop and commercially exploit the patents for the mutual benefit of us and the University of Bath to the maximum extent throughout the covered territory and in any additional territory and to obtain, maintain and/or renew any licenses or authorizations that are necessary to enable such development and commercial exploitation. Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, we agreed to comply with all relevant regulatory requirements in respect of our sponsoring and/or performing clinical trials in humans involving the administration of a product or materials within a claim of the patents; and |
| ● | We agreed to take out with a reputable insurance company and maintain liability insurance coverage prior to the first human trials. |
In consideration of such assignment, we agreed to pay royalties of two percent of net revenues to the University of Bath. Additionally, we agreed to pay five percent of each, and every license agreement subscribed for. The contract may be cancelled at any time by either party. To date, no amounts are owed under the agreement.
University of Jaén Collaboration Agreement
We have established a collaboration with the University of Jaén to carry out a research project aimed at the synthetic development of PRP and its subsequent validation. The University of Jaén is providing scientific research activities, the Department of Health Sciences, which provides the necessary technical and human resources to carry out the programmed works. A Collaboration Agreement (the “Collaboration Agreement”), dated October 1, 2020, was entered into with the main objective for the synthetic development of PRP and its subsequent validation. Pursuant to the Collaboration Agreement, a pre-clinical protocol of safety evaluation was established relating to the antitumor efficacy on cancer stem cells and in orthotopic xenotransplantations derived from cancer stem cells isolated from tumor cell lines, and newly developed synthetic formulation based on the two pancreatic zymogens.
The ownership of potential intellectual property rights that may arise because of the knowledge obtained through such research project will belong to us. In consideration for payment of compensation, the University of Jaén assigned and agreed to do all things reasonably required to assign to the contracting entity all industrial property rights arising from such research project.
In return for ownership of the industrial property rights arising from such research project, we agreed to pay the University of Jaén two percent of the net sales of any products sold by the contracting entity which fall within the scope of the protection of such industrial property rights.
A second collaborative research project commenced on July 27, 2022, with the universities of Jaén and Granada investigating the effect of pancreatic proenzymes against the tumor microenvironment and premetastatic niche. The specific tasks developed under this collaboration focused on the effects of PRP on cancer-associated fibroblasts within the tumor microenvironment. Consistent with existing rights, Propanc will own any intellectual property developed. The personnel of the investigation team of the universities of Jaén and Granada whose work has contributed to the creation of knowledge that gives rise to industrial property rights should be listed as inventors. Further, Professor Macarena Perán from the University of Jaén and Professor Marchal from the University of Granada will receive one percent of the net revenue to us from sales of any products sold by us, or on our behalf, which fall within the scope of protection of such industrial property rights. The commencement date for the experiments was September 1, 2022, and the estimated length of time for completion was 24 months.
Future Agreements
We continue to learn the properties of proenzymes with the long-term aim of screening new compounds for development. We anticipate engaging in future discussions with several technology companies who are progressing new developments in the oncology field as potential additions to our product line. Initially targeting the oncology sector, our focus is to identify and develop novel treatments that are highly effective targeted therapies, with few side effects because of toxicity to healthy cells.
Intellectual Property
The Company has filed multiple patent applications relating to PRP. The Company’s lead patent application has been granted and remains in force in the U.S., Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Turkey, the UK, Australia, China, Japan, Indonesia, Israel, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, South Africa, Mexico, the Republic of Korea, India, Brazil and Canada.
In 2016 and early 2017, we filed three applications under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (the “PCT”). The PCT assists applicants in seeking patent protection by filing one international patent application under the PCT; thus, applicants can simultaneously seek protection for an invention in over 150 countries. Once filed, the application is placed under the control of the national or regional patent offices, as applicable, in what is called the national phase. One of the PCT applications filed in November 2016 entered national phase in July 2018 and another PCT application entered national phase in August 2018. A third PCT application entered national phase in October 2018.
As of June 30, 2025, we have 85 granted, allowed, or accepted patents and 5 patent applications filed, or under examination in key global jurisdictions, relating to the use of proenzymes against solid tumors, covering PRP.
Further patent applications are expected to be filed to capture and protect additional patentable subject matter based on the Company’s field of technology relating to pharmaceutical compositions of proenzymes for treating cancer.
A list of the Company’s patents are as follows:
| FPA Ref | Country | Official No. | Title | Case Status | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M50096550 | Australia | 2010310887 | A pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer comprising trypsinogen and/or chymotrypsinogen and an active agent selected from a selenium compound, a vanilloid compound and a cytoplasmic glycolysis reduction agent | Granted | 2009905147 |
| M50096566 | Brazil | BR112012009521-8 | A pharmaceutical composition and use of chymotrypsinogen or tripsinogen | Granted | 2009905147 |
| M50177545 | China | ZL201710885368.4 | A pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer comprising trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen | Granted | 2009905147 |
| M50096689 | China | ZL201080054056.5 | A pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer comprising trypsinogen and/or chymotrypsinogen and an active agent selected from a selenium compound, a vanilloid compound and a cytoplasmic glycolysis reduction agent | Granted | 2009905147 |
| M50096571 | Canada | 2814958 | A pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer comprising trypsinogen and/or chymotrypsinogen and an active agent selected from a selenium compound, a vanilloid compound and a cytoplasmic glycolysis reduction agent | Granted | 2009905147 |
| M50136138 | European Patent Convention | 3095458 | Pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer comprising trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen | Validated in designated states | 2009905147 |
| FPA Ref | Country | Official No. | Title | Case Status | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MBE3095458 | Belgium | 3095458 | Pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer comprising trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen | Granted | 2009905147 |
| MCHL3095458 | Switzerland & Liechtenstein | 3095458 | Pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer comprising trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen | Granted | 2009905147 |
| MCZ3095458 | Czech Republic | 3095458 | Pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer comprising trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen | Granted | 2009905147 |
| MDE3095458 | Germany | 3095458 | Pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer comprising trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen | Granted | 2009905147 |
| MDK3095458 | Denmark | 3095458 | Pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer comprising trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen | Granted | 2009905147 |
| MES3095458 | Spain | ES3095458 | Pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer comprising trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen | Granted | 2009905147 |
| MFR3095458 | France | 3095458 | Pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer comprising trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen | Granted | 2009905147 |
| MGB3095458 | United Kingdom | 3095458 | Pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer comprising trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen | Granted | 2009905147 |
| MIE3095458 | Ireland | 3095458 | Pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer comprising trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen | Granted | 2009905147 |
| MIT3095458 | Italy | 3095458 | Pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer comprising trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen | Granted | 2009905147 |
| MNL3095458 | Netherlands | 3095458 | Pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer comprising trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen | Granted | 2009905147 |
| MPT3095458 | Portugal | 3095458 | Pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer comprising trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen | Granted | 2009905147 |
| MSE3095458 | Sweden | 3095458 | Pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer comprising trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen | Granted | 2009905147 |
| MTR3095458 | Turkey | TR3095458 | Pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer comprising trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen | Granted | 2009905147 |
| M50185011 | Hong Kong | HK1249017 | A pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer comprising trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen | Granted | 2009905147 |
| M50154552 | Hong Kong | HK1228730 | Pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer comprising trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen | Granted | 2009905147 |
| M50096605 | India | 303918 | A pharmaceutical composition comprising trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen | Granted | 2009905147 |
| M50096610 | Indonesia | IDP000043024 | A pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer comprising trypsinogen and/or chymotrypsinogen and an active agent selected from a selenium compound, a vanilloid compound and a cytoplasmic glycolysis reduction agent | Granted | 2009905147 |
| FPA Ref | Country | Official No. | Title | Case Status | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M50096626 | Israel | 219216 | Pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer comprising trypsinogen and/or chymotrypsinogen and an active agent selected from a selenium compound, a vanilloid compound and a cytoplasmic glycolysis reduction agent | Granted | 2009905147 |
| M50096631 | Japan | 5871805 | A pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer comprising trypsinogen and/or chymotrypsinogen and an active agent selected from a selenium compound, a vanilloid compound and a cytoplasmic glycolysis reduction agent | Granted | 2009905147 |
| M50096647 | Malaysia | MY-166634-A | A pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer comprising trypsinogen and/or chymotrypsinogen and an active agent selected from a selenium compound, a vanilloid compound and a cytoplasmic glycolysis reduction agent | Granted | 2009905147 |
| M50096652 | Mexico | 355971 | A pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer comprising trypsinogen and/or chymotrypsinogen and an active agent selected from a selenium compound, a vanilloid compound and a cytoplasmic glycolysis reduction agent | Granted | 2009905147 |
| M50175059 | Mexico | MX/a/2017/009455 | A pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer comprising trypsinogen and/or chymotrypsinogen and an active agent selected from a selenium compound, a vanilloid compound and a cytoplasmic glycolysis reduction agent | Granted | 2009905147 |
| M50096668 | New Zealand | 599996 | A pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer comprising trypsinogen and/or chymotrypsinogen and an active agent selected from a selenium compound, a vanilloid compound and a cytoplasmic glycolysis reduction agent | Granted | 2009905147 |
| M50096694 | Republic of Korea | 10-1936439 | A pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer comprising trypsinogen and/or chymotrypsinogen and an active agent selected from a selenium compound, a vanilloid compound and a cytoplasmic glycolysis reduction agent | Granted | 2009905147 |
| M50096728 | Singapore | 1020140665IP | A pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer comprising trypsinogen and/or chymotrypsinogen and an active agent selected from a selenium compound, a vanilloid compound and a cytoplasmic glycolysis reduction agent | Granted | 2009905147 |
| M50096749 | South Africa | 2012/03689 | A pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer comprising trypsinogen and/or chymotrypsinogen and an active agent selected from a selenium compound, a vanilloid compound and a cytoplasmic glycolysis reduction agent | Granted | 2009905147 |
| M50096775 | United States of America | 9636359 | Pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer comprising trypsinogen and/or chymotrypsinogen and an active agent selected from a selenium compound, a vanilloid compound and a cytoplasmic glycolysis reduction agent | Granted | 2009905147 |
| M50158751 | United States of America | 10350239 | Pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer comprising trypsinogen and/or chymotrypsinogen and an active agent selected from a selenium compound, a vanilloid compound and a cytoplasmic glycolysis reduction agent | Granted | 2009905147 |
| M53188747 | United States of America | 17/862120 | Pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer comprising trypsinogen and/or chymotrypsinogen and an active agent selected from a selenium compound, a vanilloid compound and a cytoplasmic glycolysis reduction agent | Abandoned by client (D) | 2009905147 |
| M50206824 | Australia | 2016353539 | Proenzyme composition | Granted | 2015904678 |
| FPA Ref | Country | Official No. | Title | Case Status | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M50206845 | Canada | 3003835 | Proenzyme composition | Application accepted | 2015904678 |
| M50206871 | China | 201680070907.2 | Proenzyme composition | Under examination | 2015904678 |
| M50206887 | European Patent Convention | 3373956 | Proenzyme composition | Validated in designated states | 2015904678 |
| MBE3373956 | Belgium | BE3373956 | Proenzyme composition | Granted | 2015904678 |
| MCHL3373956 | Switzerland & Liechtenstein | CHL3373956 | Proenzyme composition | Granted | 2015904678 |
| MCZ3373956 | Czech Republic | CZ3373956 | Proenzyme composition | Granted | 2015904678 |
| MDE3373956 | Germany | DE3373956 | Proenzyme composition | Granted | 2015904678 |
| MDK3373956 | Denmark | DK3373956 | Proenzyme composition | Granted | 2015904678 |
| MES3373956 | Spain | ES3373956 | Proenzyme composition | Granted | 2015904678 |
| MFR3373956 | France | FR3373956 | Proenzyme composition | Granted | 2015904678 |
| MGB3373956 | United Kingdom | GB3373956 | Proenzyme composition | Granted | 2015904678 |
| MIE3373956 | Ireland | IE3373956 | Proenzyme composition | Granted | 2015904678 |
| MIT3373956 | Italy | IT3373956 | Proenzyme composition | Granted | 2015904678 |
| MNL3373956 | Netherlands | NL3373956 | Proenzyme composition | Granted | 2015904678 |
| MSE3373956 | Sweden | SE3373956 | Proenzyme composition | Granted | 2015904678 |
| M53020319 | Hong Kong | 19101905.1 | Proenzyme composition | Application filed | 2015904678 |
| M50206905 | Indonesia | IDP000075710 | Proenzyme composition | Granted | 2015904678 |
| M50206910 | Israel | 259259 | Proenzyme composition | Granted | 2015904678 |
| M50206926 | Japan | 7479119 | Proenzyme composition | Granted | 2015904678 |
| M50206931 | Malaysia | MY-196737-A | Proenzyme composition | Granted | 2015904678 |
| M50206947 | New Zealand | 742020 | Proenzyme composition | Granted | 2015904678 |
| M50206952 | Singapore | 11201803531X | Proenzyme composition | Granted | 2015904678 |
| M50206968 | South Africa | 2018/03855 | Proenzyme composition | Application accepted | 2015904678 |
| M50206973 | United States of America | 15/775375 | Proenzyme composition | Application allowed | 2015904678 |
| M50215370 | Australia | 2017212151 | Cancer treatment | Granted | 201630112 |
| M50215386 | Canada | 3012398 | Cancer treatment | Under examination | 201630112 |
| M50215404 | European Patent Convention | 3407909 | Cancer treatment | Validated in designated states | 201630112 |
| MBE3407909 | Belgium | BE3407909 | Cancer treatment | Granted | 201630112 |
| MCHL3407909 | Switzerland & Liechtenstein | CHL3407909 | Cancer treatment | Granted | 201630112 |
| MDE3407909 | Germany | DE3407909 | Cancer treatment | Granted | 201630112 |
| MDK3407909 | Denmark | DK3407909 | Cancer treatment | Granted | 201630112 |
| MES3407909 | Spain | ES3407909 | Cancer treatment | Granted | 201630112 |
| MFR3407909 | France | FR3407909 | Cancer treatment | Granted | 201630112 |
| MGB3407909 | United Kingdom | GB3407909 | Cancer treatment | Granted | 201630112 |
| MIE3407909 | Ireland | IE3407909 | Cancer treatment | Granted | 201630112 |
| MIT3407909 | Italy | IT3407909 | Cancer treatment | Granted | 201630112 |
| MLU3407909 | Luxembourg | LU3407909 | Cancer treatment | Granted | 201630112 |
| MMC3407909 | Monaco | MC3407909 | Cancer treatment | Granted | 201630112 |
| MNL3407909 | Netherlands | NL3407909 | Cancer treatment | Granted | 201630112 |
| MSE3407909 | Sweden | SE3407909 | Cancer treatment | Granted | 201630112 |
| M50215425 | Israel | 260814 | Chymotrypsinogen and trypsinogen in cancer treatment | Granted | 201630112 |
| M50215430 | Japan | 7058604 | Cancer treatment | Granted | 201630112 |
| M50215446 | Malaysia | MY-198500-A | Cancer treatment | Granted | 201630112 |
| M50215451 | New Zealand | 744845 | Cancer treatment | Granted | 201630112 |
| M50215467 | Singapore | 11201806318U | Cancer treatment | Granted | 201630112 |
| M50215472 | United States of America | 11376313 | Cancer treatment | Granted | 201630112 |
| M53003341 | Australia | 2017250010 | Composition of proenzymes for cancer treatment | Abandoned by client (D) | 62/321370 |
| M53003354 | China | 201780021479.9 | Composition of proenzymes for cancer treatment | Under examination | 62/321370 |
| FPA Ref | Country | Official No. | Title | Case Status | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M53003367 | European Patent Convention | 3442564 | Composition of proenzymes for cancer treatment | Validated in designated states | 62/321370 |
| MBE3442564 | Belgium | BE3442564 | Composition of proenzymes for cancer treatment | Granted | 62/321370 |
| MCHL3442564 | Switzerland & Liechtenstein | CHL3442564 | Composition of proenzymes for cancer treatment | Granted | 62/321370 |
| MDE3442564 | Germany | DE3442564 | Composition of proenzymes for cancer treatment | Granted | 62/321370 |
| MFR3442564 | France | FR3442564 | Composition of proenzymes for cancer treatment | Granted | 62/321370 |
| MGB3442564 | United Kingdom | GB3442564 | Composition of proenzymes for cancer treatment | Granted | 62/321370 |
| MIE3442564 | Ireland | IE3442564 | Composition of proenzymes for cancer treatment | Granted | 62/321370 |
| MLU3442564 | Luxembourg | LU3442564 | Composition of proenzymes for cancer treatment | Granted | 62/321370 |
| MMC3442564 | Monaco | MC3442564 | Composition of proenzymes for cancer treatment | Granted | 62/321370 |
| M53008151 | Hong Kong | 19126275.7 | Composition of proenzymes for cancer treatment | Application filed | 62/321370 |
| M53003380 | Japan | 7004665 | Composition of proenzymes for cancer treatment | Granted | 62/321370 |
| M53003393 | United States of America | 16/094846 | Composition of proenzymes for cancer treatment | Abandoned by client (D) | 62/321370 |
Regulatory Matters
United States
Government oversight of the pharmaceutical industry is usually classified into pre-approval and post-approval categories. Most of the therapeutically significant innovative products marketed today are the subject of New Drug Applications (“NDA”). Preapproval of activities, based on these detailed applications, are used to ensure the product is safe and effective before marketing. In the United States, The Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (“CDER”), is the FDA organization responsible for over the counter and prescription drugs, including most biological therapeutics, and generic drugs.
Before approval, the FDA may inspect and audit the development facilities, planned production facilities, clinical trials, institutional review boards and laboratory facilities in which the product was tested in animals. After the product is approved and marketed, the FDA uses different mechanisms for assuring that firms adhere to the terms and conditions of approval described in the application and that the product is manufactured in a consistent and controlled manner. This is done by periodic unannounced inspections of production and quality control facilities by FDA’s field investigators and analysts.
Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and Public Health Service Act
Prescription drug and biologic products are subject to extensive pre- and post-market regulations by the FDA, including regulations that govern the testing, manufacturing, safety, efficacy, labelling, storage, record keeping, advertising and promotion of such products under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, the Public Health Service Act, and their implementing regulations. The process of obtaining FDA approval and achieving and maintaining compliance with applicable laws and regulations requires the expenditure of substantial time and financial resources. Failure to comply with applicable FDA or other requirements may result in refusal to approve pending applications, a clinical hold, warning letters, civil or criminal penalties, recall or seizure of products, partial or total suspension of production or withdrawal of the product from the market. FDA approval is required before any new drug or biologic, including a new use of a previously approved drug, can be marketed in the United States. All applications for FDA approval must contain, among other things, information relating to safety and efficacy, stability, manufacturing, processing, packaging, labelling and quality control.
New Drug Applications (“NDAs”)
The FDA’s NDA approval process generally involves:
| ● | completion of preclinical laboratory and animal testing in compliance with the FDA’s good laboratory practice, or GLP, regulations; |
| ● | submission to the FDA of an investigational new drug (“IND”) application for human clinical testing, which must become effective before human clinical trials may begin in the United States; |
| ● | performance of adequate and well-controlled human clinical trials to establish the safety, purity and potency of the proposed product for each intended use; |
| ● | satisfactory completion of an FDA pre-approval inspection of the facility or facilities at which the product is manufactured to assess compliance with the FDA’s “current good manufacturing practice” (“CGMP”) regulations; and |
| ● | submission to and approval by the FDA of an NDA. |
The preclinical and clinical testing and approval process requires substantial time, effort and financial resources, and we cannot guarantee that any approvals for our product candidates will be granted on a timely basis, if at all. Preclinical tests include laboratory evaluation of toxicity and immunogenicity in animals. The results of preclinical tests, together with manufacturing information and analytical data, are submitted as part of an IND application to the FDA. The IND automatically becomes effective 30 days after receipt by the FDA, unless the FDA raises concerns or questions about the conduct of the clinical trial, including concerns that human research subjects will be exposed to unreasonable health risks. In such a case, the IND sponsor and the FDA must resolve any outstanding concerns before clinical trials can begin. Our submission of an IND may not result in FDA authorization to commence clinical trials. A separate submission to an existing IND must also be made for each successive clinical trial conducted during product development. Further, an independent institutional review board (“IRB”) covering each medical center proposing to conduct clinical trials must review and approve the plan for any clinical trial before it commences at that center and it must monitor the study until completed. The FDA, the IRB or the Sponsor may suspend a clinical trial at any time on various grounds, including a finding that the subjects or patients are being exposed to an unacceptable health risk. Clinical testing also must satisfy extensive “good clinical practice” (“GCP”) regulations, which include requirements that all research subjects provide informed consent and that all clinical studies be conducted under the supervision of one or more qualified investigators.
For purposes of an NDA submission and approval, human clinical trials are typically conducted in the following sequential phases, which may overlap:
| ● | Phase I: Initially conducted in a limited population to test the product candidate for safety and dose tolerance; |
| ● | Phase II: Generally conducted in a limited patient population to identify possible adverse effects and safety risks, to determine the initial efficacy of the product for specific targeted indications and to determine optimal dosage. A Phase IIa trial is a non-pivotal, exploratory study that assesses biological activity as its primary endpoint. A Phase IIb trial is designed as a definite dose finding study with efficacy as the primary endpoint. Multiple Phase II clinical trials may be conducted by the sponsor to obtain information prior to beginning larger and more extensive Phase III clinical trials; |
| ● | Phase III: Commonly referred to as pivotal studies. When Phase II evaluations demonstrate that a dose range of the product is effective and has an acceptable safety profile, Phase III clinical trials are undertaken in large patient populations to further evaluate dosage, to provide substantial evidence of clinical efficacy and to further test for safety in an expanded and diverse patient population at multiple, geographically dispersed clinical trial sites. Generally, replicate evidence of safety and effectiveness needs to be demonstrated in two adequate and well-controlled Phase III clinical trials of a product candidate for a specific indication. These studies are intended to establish the overall risk/benefit ratio of the product and provide adequate basis for product labelling; and |
| ● | Phase IV: In some cases, the FDA may condition approval of an NDA on the sponsor’s agreement to conduct additional clinical trials to further assess the product’s safety, purity and potency after NDA approval. Such post-approval trials are typically referred to as Phase IV clinical trials. |
Progress reports detailing the results of the clinical studies must be submitted at least annually to the FDA and safety reports must be submitted to the FDA and the investigators for serious and unexpected adverse events. Concurrently with clinical studies, sponsors usually complete additional animal studies and must also develop additional information about the product and finalize a process for manufacturing the product in commercial quantities in accordance with CGMP requirements. The manufacturing process must be capable of consistently producing quality batches of the product and, among other things, the manufacturer must develop methods for testing the identity, strength, quality and purity of the final product. Moreover, appropriate packaging must be selected and tested, and stability studies must be conducted to demonstrate that the product candidate does not undergo unacceptable deterioration over its shelf-life.
The results of product development, preclinical studies and clinical trials, along with the aforementioned manufacturing information, are submitted to the FDA as part of an NDA. NDAs must also contain extensive manufacturing information. Under the Prescription Drug User Fee Act, the FDA agrees to specific goals for NDA review time through a two-tiered classification system, Standard Review and Priority Review. Standard Review is applied to products that offer at most only minor improvement over existing marketed therapies. Standard Review NDAs have a goal of being completed within a ten-month timeframe, although a review can take significantly longer. A Priority Review designation is given to products that offer major advances in treatment or provide a treatment where no adequate therapy exists. A Priority Review takes the FDA six months to review an NDA. It is likely that our product candidates will be granted Standard Reviews. The review process is often significantly extended by FDA requests for additional information or clarification. The FDA may refer to the application to an advisory committee for review, evaluation and recommendation as to whether the application should be approved. The FDA is not bound by the recommendation of an advisory committee, but it generally follows such recommendations.
The FDA may deny approval of an NDA if the applicable regulatory criteria are not satisfied, or it may require additional clinical data or additional pivotal Phase III clinical trials. Even if such data is submitted, the FDA may ultimately decide that the NDA does not satisfy the criteria for approval. Data from clinical trials is not always conclusive and the FDA may interpret data differently than we do. Once issued, product approval may be withdrawn by the FDA if ongoing regulatory requirements are not met or if safety problems occur after the product reaches the market. In addition, the FDA may require testing, including Phase IV clinical trials, risk evaluation and mitigation strategies, and surveillance programs to monitor the effect of approved products that have been commercialized, and the FDA has the power to prevent or limit further marketing of a product based on the results of these post-marketing programs. Products may be marketed only for the approved indications and in accordance with the provisions of the approved label. Further, if there are any modifications to the drug, including changes in indications, labelling or manufacturing processes or facilities, approval of a new or supplemental NDA may be required, which may involve conducting additional preclinical studies and clinical trials.
Other U.S. Regulatory Requirements
After approval, products are subject to extensive continuing regulation by the FDA, which include company obligations to manufacture products in accordance with GMP, maintain and provide to the FDA updated safety and efficacy information, report adverse experiences with the product, keep certain records, submit periodic reports, obtain FDA approval of certain manufacturing or labeling changes and comply with FDA promotion and advertising requirements and restrictions. Failure to meet these obligations can result in various adverse consequences, both voluntary and FDA-imposed, including product recalls, withdrawal of approval, restrictions on marketing and the imposition of civil fines and criminal penalties. In addition, later discovery of previously unknown safety or efficacy issues may result in restrictions on the product, manufacturer or NDA holder.
Propanc, and any manufacturers of our products, are required to comply with applicable FDA manufacturing requirements contained in the FDA’s GMP regulations. GMP regulations require, among other things, quality control and quality assurance as well as the corresponding maintenance of records and documentation. The manufacturing facilities for our products must meet GMP requirements to the satisfaction of the FDA pursuant to a pre-approval inspection before Propanc can use them to manufacture products. Propanc and any third-party manufacturers are also subject to periodic inspections of facilities by the FDA and other authorities, including procedures and operations used in the testing and manufacture of our products to assess our compliance with applicable regulations.
With respect to post-market product advertising and promotion, the FDA imposes complex regulations on entities that advertise and promote pharmaceuticals, which include, among others, standards for direct-to-consumer advertising, promoting products for uses or in patient populations that are not described in the product’s approved labeling (known as “off-label use”), industry-sponsored scientific and educational activities and promotional activities involving the Internet. Failure to comply with FDA requirements can have negative consequences, including adverse publicity, enforcement letters from the FDA, mandated corrective advertising or communications with doctors and civil or criminal penalties. Although physicians may prescribe legally available drugs for off-label uses, manufacturers may not market or promote such off-label uses.
Changes to some of the conditions established in an approved application, including changes in indications, labeling, or manufacturing processes or facilities, require submission and FDA approval of a new NDA or NDA supplement before the change can be implemented. An NDA supplement for a new indication typically requires clinical data like that in the original application, and the FDA uses the same procedures and actions in reviewing NDA supplements as it does in reviewing an NDA.
Adverse event reporting and submission of periodic reports is required following FDA approval of an NDA. The FDA also may require post-marketing testing, known as Phase IV testing, risk mitigation strategies and surveillance to monitor the effects of an approved product or to place conditions on approval that could restrict the distribution or use of the product.
In June 2017, we were notified by the FDA that PRP had been granted orphan drug designation for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. Orphan drug designation may be granted by the FDA when a rare disease or condition is implicated, and a potential treatment qualifies under the Orphan Drug Act and applicable FDA regulations. This qualifies us for various developmental incentives, including protocol assistance, the potential for research grants, the waiver of future application fees, and tax credits for clinical testing if we choose to host future clinical trials in the United States.
In October 2017, we submitted a request for a second orphan drug designation for PRP, this time for ovarian cancer.
On November 2, 2017, we were notified by the FDA that our request was not granted. The Office of Orphan Products Development (“OOPD”) stated that complete prevalence is used as a measure of disease in ovarian cancer, as this reflects the number of women who have been diagnosed with disease and may be eligible for treatment with the proposed therapy. Therefore, on the date of the submission of our application, the OOPD estimated that the prevalence of ovarian cancer was 228,110 cases. Since the prevalence exceeds the threshold of 200,000 to qualify for orphan drug designation, they could not grant our request. We may consider resubmitting our application if we can identify a suitable sub-population in ovarian cancer, which may meet the target threshold.
European Union
In addition to regulations in the United States, we will be subject to a variety of foreign regulations governing clinical trials, commercial sales and distribution of our products if we conduct trials for, and market and sell our products, abroad. Whether or not we obtain FDA approval for a product, we must obtain approval of a product by the comparable regulatory authorities of foreign countries before we can commence clinical trials or market our product in those countries. The approval process varies from country to country, and the time may differ than that required for FDA approval. The requirements governing the conduct of clinical trials, product licensing, pricing and reimbursement vary greatly from country to country. Despite these differences, the clinical trials will be conducted according to international standards, such as GCP, GMP and GLP, which is recognized by each foreign country under the International Conference of Harmonization Guidelines. We plan to conduct our trials in each foreign jurisdiction according to these standards, undertaking a FIH Phase Ib study in patients with advanced solid tumors, evaluating the safety, pharmacokinetics, and anti-tumor efficacy of PRP. This will be followed by two Phase II studies evaluating the efficacy and safety of PRP. To ensure harmonization between the jurisdictions, we intend to conduct regulatory meetings in the country in which trials are conducted, as well as with the FDA and the EMA. A pre-IND meeting will be held with the FDA once initial patient data has been collected from the FIH study to ensure acceptability of future planned Phase II trials.
Under European Union regulatory systems, we must submit and obtain authorization for a CTA in each member state in which we intend to conduct a clinical trial. After we have completed clinical trials, we must obtain marketing authorization before we can market its product. We must submit applications for marketing authorizations for oncology products under a centralized procedure. The centralized procedure provides for the grant of a single marketing authorization that is valid for all European Union member states. The EMA is the agency responsible for the scientific evaluation of medicines that are to be assessed via the centralized procedure.
On June 23, 2016, the UK government held a referendum to gauge voters’ support to remain or leave the European Union. The referendum resulted in 51.9% of UK voters in favor of leaving the European Union, commonly referred to as “Brexit.” On March 29, 2017, the UK invoked Article 50 of Lisbon Treaty to initiate complete withdrawal from the European Union, which was effectuated on January 31, 2020. The center for the EMA was based in London, but the European Union has relocated the center to The Netherlands.
Australia
In Australia, the relevant regulatory body responsible for the pharmaceutical industry is the Therapeutics Goods Administration (the “TGA”). Prescription medicines are regulated under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989. Under the Therapeutic Goods Act, the TGA evaluates new products for quality, safety and efficacy before being approved for market authorization, according to similar standards employed by the FDA and EMA in the United States and European Union, respectively. However, receiving market authorization in one or two regions does not guarantee approval in another.
Third-Party Payor Coverage and Reimbursement
Although none of our product candidates has been commercialized for any indication, if they are approved for marketing, commercial success of our product candidates will depend, in part, upon the availability of coverage and reimbursement from third-party payors at the federal, state and private levels. In addition, in many countries outside the United States, a drug must be approved for reimbursement before it can be approved for sale in that country.
Eligibility for reimbursement does not imply that any drug will be paid for in all cases or at a rate that covers our costs, including research, development, manufacture, sale and distribution. Interim reimbursement levels for new drugs, if applicable, may also not be sufficient to cover costs and may not be made permanent. Reimbursement rates may vary according to the use of the drug and the clinical setting in which it is used, may be based on reimbursement levels already set for lower cost drugs and may be incorporated into existing payments for other services. Net prices for drugs may be reduced by mandatory discounts or rebates required by government healthcare programs or private payors and by any future relaxation of laws that presently restrict imports of drugs from countries where they may be sold at lower prices than in the United States. Third-party payors often rely upon Medicare coverage policy and payment limitations in setting their own reimbursement policies.
In many countries outside the United States, a drug must be approved for reimbursement before it can be approved for sale in that country. Approval by the FDA does not ensure approval by regulatory authorities in other countries or jurisdictions, and approval by one foreign regulatory authority does not ensure approval by regulatory authorities in other foreign countries or by the FDA. The foreign regulatory approval process may include all of the risks associated with obtaining FDA approval. We may not obtain foreign regulatory approvals on a timely basis, if at all. We may not be able to file for regulatory approvals and may not receive necessary approvals to commercialize our products in any foreign market.
The regulations that govern marketing approvals, pricing and reimbursement for new drug products vary widely from country to country. In the United States, recently passed legislation may significantly change the approval requirements in ways that could involve additional costs and cause delays in obtaining approvals. Some countries require approval of the sale price of a drug before it can be marketed. In many countries, the pricing review period begins after marketing or product licensing approval is granted. In some foreign markets, prescription pharmaceutical pricing remains subject to continuing governmental control even after initial approval is granted.
Government authorities and third-party payors, such as private health insurers and health maintenance organizations, decide which medications they will pay for and establish reimbursement levels. A primary trend in the U.S. healthcare industry and elsewhere is cost containment. Government authorities and third-party payors have attempted to control costs by limiting coverage and the amount of reimbursement for specific medications. Increasingly, third-party payors are requiring that drug companies provide them with predetermined discounts from list prices and are challenging the prices charged for medical products.
Other Regulations
We are also subject to numerous federal, state, and local laws relating to such matters as safe working conditions, manufacturing practices, environmental protection, fire hazard control, and disposal of hazardous or potentially hazardous substances. We may incur significant costs to comply with such laws and regulations now or in the future.
Competition
The biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries are characterized by continuing technological advancement and significant competition. While we believe that our technology platforms, product candidates, know-how, experience and scientific resources provide us with competitive advantages, we face competition from major pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, academic institutions, governmental agencies and public and private research institutions, among others. Any product candidates that we successfully develop and commercialize will compete with existing therapies and new therapies that may become available in the future. Key product features that would affect our ability to effectively compete with other therapeutics include the efficacy, safety and convenience of our products. The level of generic competition and the availability of reimbursement from government and other third-party payers will also significantly impact on the pricing and competitiveness of our products. Our competitors also may obtain FDA or other regulatory approval for their products more rapidly than we may obtain approval for ours, which could result in our competitors establishing a strong market position before we are able to enter the market.
Many of our competitors have significantly greater financial resources and expertise in R&D, manufacturing, preclinical testing, conducting clinical trials, obtaining regulatory approvals and marketing approved products than we do. Smaller or early-stage companies may also prove to be significant competitors, particularly through collaborative arrangements with large and established companies. These competitors also compete with us in recruiting and retaining qualified scientific and management personnel and establishing clinical trial sites and patient registration for clinical trials, as well as in acquiring technologies complementary to, or necessary for, our programs.
Employees
As of June 30, 2025, we had one full-time and one part-time employee. In addition to our employees, we engage key consultants and utilize the services of independent contractors to perform various services on our behalf. Some of our executive officers and directors are engaged in outside business activities that we do not believe conflict with our business. Over time, we may be required to hire additional employees or engage independent contractors to execute various projects that are necessary to grow and develop our business. These decisions will be made by our officers and directors, if appropriate.
Corporate Information
Propanc is based in Camberwell, Victoria, Australia. Since its inception, substantially all the operations of the Company have been focused on the development of new cancer treatments targeting high-risk patients, particularly cancer survivors, who need a follow-up, non-toxic, long-term therapy designed to prevent the cancer from returning and spreading. The Company anticipates establishing global markets for its technologies. PRP is an enhanced pro-enzyme formulation designed to enhance the anti-cancer effects of multiple enzymes acting synergistically. It is currently in the preclinical phase of development.
The Company was originally formed in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on October 15, 2007, as Propanc PTY LTD. On November 23, 2010, Propanc Health Group Corporation was incorporated in the State of Delaware, and in January 2011, to reorganize the Company, all the outstanding shares of Propanc PTY LTD were acquired on a one-for-one basis by Propanc Health Group Corporation, with Propanc PTY LTD becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.
On July 22, 2016, the Company formed another wholly owned subsidiary, Propanc (UK) Limited under the laws of England and Wales for the purpose of submitting an orphan drug application to the European Medicines Agency (the “EMA”) as a small and medium-sized enterprise. As of the date of this filing, there has been no activity within this entity.
Effective April 20, 2017, the Company changed its name to “Propanc Biopharma, Inc.” to reflect the Company’s stage of operations and development better.
Our principal executive office is located at 302, 6 Butler Street, Camberwell, VIC, 3124 Australia. Our telephone number is 61 03 9882 0780. Our website is www.propanc.com.
Available Information
Copies of our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other documents that we will file with or furnish to the SEC will be available free of charge by sending a written request to our Corporate Secretary at our corporate headquarters. Our filings with the SEC are available to the public through the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
We maintain a corporate website at www.propanc.com. You will be able to access our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports, proxy statements and other information to be filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act with the SEC free of charge at our website as soon as reasonably practicable after such material will be electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. The information contained in, or that can be accessed through, our website is not part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The text of this filing, as the company filed it with the SEC, without its images or exhibits. This is not investment advice.