Biotech Novogen has made a breakthrough in the development of its anti-cancer drug TRXE-009, with trials on animals showing that the drug can breach the blood-brain barrier.

The blood-brain barrier protects the brain from the unwanted toxic effects of drugs and food chemicals, meaning 98 per cent of drugs used in humans are stopped from reaching the brain.

People with brain cancer consequently have poor survival prospects, despite treatment with chemotherapy.

Novogen chief executive Graham Kelly says TRXE-009 can kill a full range of cells within a tumour, including the tumour-initiating or cancer stem cells, and the next step in development is to apply it to cancer cells growing in the brain.

For more details, go to: http://www.afr.com/business/health/pharmaceuticals/novogen-anticancer-drug-trxe009-crosses-bloodbrain-barrier-20150605-ghhdr1