A new drug is to be trialed that could enhance the effectiveness of platinum-based chemotherapy treatments for ovarian cancer sufferers.

The Ovature study, designed to test Marshall Edwards' phenoxodiol drug, has been given approval by the US Food and Drug Administration.

Some platinum-based drugs such as carboplatin and cisplatin are a standard kind of chemotherapy treatment for patients suffering from ovarian cancer.

Most patients respond well to them, but unfortunately if the disease returns, it can often develop resistance to the platinum treatment and other forms of chemotherapy.

A total of 470 patients will take part in the test, with half being given phenoxodiol and half treated with a placebo.

Doctors will then treat the patients with carboplatin with a weekly intravenous dosage and measure its effect on treating the resistant tumours.

Patients from the UK, US, Europe and Australia will be involved in the trial.

Ÿ Adfero Ltd