Lisata Therapeutics and WARPNINE, a non-profit clinical research group in Western Australia, have announced the successful completion of patient enrollment for their ILSTA clinical trial. This trial is focused on testing a new treatment for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC)—a particularly aggressive and hard-to-treat form of cancer.

The trial is being held at St John of God Subiaco Hospital, one of the leading private hospitals in the southern hemisphere known for its clinical research excellence.

What the ILSTA Trial Is About
The ILSTA trial is currently in its Phase 1b/2a stage. It’s testing a new drug called certepetide (previously known as LSTA1), developed by Lisata. The trial combines this drug with standard chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatments to see if it improves outcomes for patients with non-resectable PDAC, meaning tumors that cannot be surgically removed.

Here’s how the trial was structured:

• Cohort 1 (5 patients): Received standard chemotherapy with placebo versions of both immunotherapy and certepetide.
• Cohort 2 (5 patients): Received chemotherapy and certepetide, with a placebo immunotherapy.
• Cohort 3 (20 patients): Received chemotherapy, certepetide, and actual immunotherapy (durvalumab).
• The trial received strong support through a collaborative effort:
• Lisata Therapeutics provided the drug and strategic guidance.
• WARPNINE offered financial support and managed trial operations.
• AstraZeneca supplied the immunotherapy drug durvalumab.

Latest Update
Preliminary data from the trial was shared on July 3, 2025, at the ESMO Gastrointestinal Cancers Congress. You can view the abstract here:
🔗 View Abstract on ESMO-GI Site

What the Experts Are Saying
🗣️ Dr. Kristen K. Buck, Chief Medical Officer at Lisata, said:

“This is an important step forward. It’s exciting to evaluate certepetide in early-stage, non-metastatic pancreatic cancer, and we’re hopeful the final results will be as promising as the early ones.”

🗣️ Meg Croucher, CEO of WARPNINE, added:

“This milestone shows the dedication of our team and our partners at St John of God Subiaco Hospital. We’re proud to be part of a project that could bring real hope to patients battling pancreatic cancer.”

Why It Matters:
Pancreatic cancer is one of the toughest cancers to treat. This trial offers a ray of hope, especially for patients with limited treatment options. By combining innovative drug development with strong partnerships, this study is pushing the boundaries of cancer care.

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