When Peter Moulding, diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic pancreatic cancer, joined a clinical trial for a new pancreatic cancer drug, he didn’t know what to expect. Today, he is in complete remission, his cancer is no longer detectable.
Peter is now one of only two people in the world known to have had a pathological complete response to treatment with AMP945, a drug developed by Australian biotech company Amplia Therapeutics. This response, where no cancer cells can be detected after treatment, is virtually unheard of in metastatic pancreatic cancer.
Peter’s experience is more than remarkable. It’s historic.
A new type of treatment
The ACCENT clinical trial tested a combination of a FAK inhibitor with standard chemotherapy which led to significant tumour shrinkage and made surgery possible. AMP945 works in a unique way. It targets the fibrotic shield that surrounds pancreatic tumours - a dense wall of tissue that acts as a physical and chemical barrier, preventing chemotherapy from penetrating effectively. By breaking down this barrier, AMP945 allows treatment to reach and impact the cancer more directly.
This early-stage Phase 2 trial, known as the ACCENT trial and led by Amplia Therapeutics, was already showing promising results. Out of 22 participants, two, including Peter, have had complete responses. Sixteen others have experienced partial tumour shrinkage, some of them significant. While not every participant has responded, oncologists say these early signs are cause for genuine optimism.
“I actually called the pathologist and said: Are you sure you’re looking at the right specimen?”
- Dr Prasad Cooray, Medical Oncologist, Epworth
From lab to life: How Pankind helped this happen
The ACCENT trial builds on years of pioneering work from Professor Paul Timpson’s team at the Garvan Institute, whose research focuses on overcoming the fibrotic environment in pancreatic cancer. Pankind is proud to have supported a few tumor micro environment research projects, which helped lay the groundwork for this novel approach to treatment.
Our investment in innovative, targeted science, particularly work that aims to improve how existing therapies can reach and treat tumours, has always been driven by one goal: better outcomes for people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The fact that Peter’s remission is linked to research we supported is a powerful reminder that we can bridge the gap between early scientific discoveries and real-world impact for patients.
A step toward progress
Peter’s case brings renewed hope to the pancreatic cancer community. As the third-deadliest cancer in Australia, and the toughest common cancer to treat, survival rates for pancreatic cancer have barely improved in 15 years.
That’s why moments like this matter so deeply.
This is not just one man’s story. It’s evidence that innovation, collaboration and sustained research funding can change the trajectory of this disease. And it's a call to keep pushing forward, because the progress we make today can save lives tomorrow.
What comes next?
There is still more to learn. AMP945 remains under investigation, and the trial is ongoing (but no longer recruiting). Peter’s story shows us what’s possible. It reminds us that behind every breakthrough are years of research, brave individuals willing to step forward and a community united in hope.
