On January 15, 2026 Propanc Biopharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: PPCB) ("Propanc" or the "Company"), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel treatments for chronic diseases, including recurrent and metastatic cancer, reported the latest update on pancreatic cancer research. Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most lethal human malignancies: median survival after diagnosis is typically measured in months, and the five-year survival rate is below 10 %. Traditional therapies such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiation often fail to achieve durable remission, especially in metastatic or chemoresistant disease. This high unmet need has drawn interest to novel mechanisms of action — including Propanc Biopharma’s pancreatic proenzyme formulation known as PRP.

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What Is PRP and Its Biological Rationale?

Propanc’s lead clinical candidate, PRP, is a proprietary mixture of two pancreatic proenzymes — trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen — formulated in a synergistic 1:6 ratio and administered intravenously. These proenzymes are hypothesized to target cancer stem cells (CSCs) and modulate malignant cellular programs such as the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process linked to metastasis and drug resistance.

Key Mechanistic Findings from Preclinical Studies include:

Suppression of metastatic processes: PRP reduced angiogenesis (formation of blood vessels that feed tumors) and cell migration in pancreatic cancer models and appeared to reverse EMT markers that contribute to invasiveness.
Enhanced chemosensitivity: Laboratory data suggest PRP makes resistant pancreatic tumor cells more responsive to standard chemotherapies and alters the tumor microenvironment — including reduced fibrosis and dampened TGF-β pathway signaling.
Tumor growth inhibition: In vivo studies in animal models showed significant reduction in pancreatic tumor weight, with >85 % growth inhibition at certain PRP doses versus controls.

Importantly, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Orphan Drug Designation to PRP in 2017 for the treatment of pancreatic cancer, recognizing the severe unmet need and small patient population.

Clinical Development Status

Propanc has progressed its PRP candidate toward human studies. Following an initial public offering and Nasdaq listing, the company is advancing plans to initiate Phase I/II clinical trials in 2026, starting with dose-finding studies and moving to proof-of-concept studies in pancreatic and other cancers. (MedPath)

Pancreatic Cancer Market: Size and Growth

Pancreatic cancer therapeutics represent a rapidly expanding global market as incidence rises and new treatments emerge. Recent market research provides the following context:

Global Market Projections:

Global pancreatic cancer treatment market: Forecast to grow from ~USD 2.9 billion in 2024 to ~USD 5.8 billion by 2030, representing a CAGR of ~12.3 %. (Grand View Research)
Pancreatic cancer market overall: Some industry projections put the broader pancreatic cancer market (including therapies and diagnostics) from ~$3.25 billion in 2025 to over $10.25 billion by 2034 at ~13.6 % CAGR. (Precedence Research)
Other reports estimate the pancreatic cancer therapeutics and diagnostics market growing toward ~$13.8 billion by 2035 at ~9.9 % CAGR. (Market Research Future)

Propanc’s Market Addressable Opportunity

According to Propanc and external research estimates, the pancreatic cancer segment targeted by PRP is forecast to reach roughly $6.93 billion by 2030.
Combined with ovarian cancer, which is also a focus for PRP, the total addressable market over the coming decade has been cited in the $14 – 18 billion range.
North America — particularly the United States — constitutes one of the largest revenue sectors in this market. (Precedence Research)

Financial Metrics and Propanc’s Position

Propanc Biopharma is a pre-revenue biotechnology company focused on early-stage clinical development:

The company has no product revenues to date and remains development and research oriented. Significant annual net losses have been reported due in large part to non-cash stock-based compensation expenses rather than major R&D outlays. (Reddit)
A recent IPO and Nasdaq listing raised approximately $4 million in gross proceeds, with Propanc positioning itself for clinical advancement of PRP and a recombinant follow-on candidate (Rec-PRP). (Stock Titan)
Despite limited cash flow from operations, the company has entered structural financing arrangements, including a potential $100 million private placement facility to fund further development. (Santé log)

Challenges and Outlook

While the scientific rationale for PRP is compelling, pancreatic cancer remains biologically complex, with historical challenges in translating early preclinical signals to clinical success. Challenges include:

Designing robust clinical trials that show meaningful overall survival benefits.
Demonstrating PRP’s effects on the tumor microenvironment and chemosensitivity translate into improved outcomes for patients.
Navigating competitive therapeutic landscapes with new targeted therapies, immunotherapies, and combination regimens.

Yet, if PRP proves safe and effective, its mechanism of targeting cancer stem cells and modulating EMT could offer a distinct therapeutic option in a market desperate for innovation. Combining that potential with a significant and growing addressable pancreatic cancer market underscores why PRP’s clinical success could have both medical and financial implications in the years ahead.

(Press release, Propanc, JAN 15, 2026, View Source [SID1234662058])