Merrion drug Orazol could be used to treat breast cancer

TABLET TECHNOLOGY developed by Merrion Pharmaceuticals could be used in the early treatment or prevention of breast cancer following successful trials in the treatment of bone cancer.

The Dublin-listed firm said yesterday that it had concluded successful phase two trials of the Orazol tablets in the treatment of patients with bone metastases, or secondary bone cancer.

The trial showed that weekly treatment with the tablets can be as effective as a monthly intravenous infusion of the same drug.

Orazol is a tablet form of zolendronic acid, which has so far only been available in an infusion form. Zolendronic acid has global sales of $1.65 billion (€1.17 billion) in its current form.

As well as being used to treat secondary bone cancer, it has proven uses in treating breast cancer and osteoporosis. Use of the drug in tablet form has the potential to save millions in hospital costs and to reduce the trauma of cancer treatment for large numbers of patients.

Some estimates suggest a single drug transfusion costs more than $1,000 for the delivery infrastructure alone. “We believe the economic and treatment benefits of Orazol will be widely welcomed in the clinician and patient communities,” said Merrion chief executive John Lynch.

Merrion is one of just a handful of stocks on the Dublin market to have risen over the past year.