Kazia Therapeutics calls for greater awareness of brain cancer in the US

This Glioblastoma Awareness Day, on 17^th July 2019, Australian oncology-focused biotech company, Kazia Therapeutics Ltd, calls for greater awareness of the most lethal brain cancer in the US.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common, complex, treatment-resistant, and deadliest type of brain cancer in the US, accounting for 45% of all brain cancers and takes the lives of more than 14,000 people each year.

Kazia CEO, Dr James Garner said, "GBM may be the most common and aggressive form of primary brain cancer, but it commonly begins with quite innocuous symptoms such as headache and nausea.  If left untreated, however, cancer progresses very, very rapidly, which is why we are urging all people to understand all of the major symptoms and to see their doctor if they are experiencing any of them."

The most commonly reported symptoms are:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Severe headaches, which are typically worse in the morning. 

Other symptoms include:

• Neurological symptoms which are dependent on the tumour location, i.e. weakness or sensory changes of face, arm or leg, balance difficulties and neurocognitive/memory issues
• Seizures

Kazia is developing a drug called GDC-0084 for the treatment of GBM and other cancers. The drug, which was licensed from US pharmaceutical group, Genentech, is currently in phase II human trials.