Novogen has unveiled a new anti-cancer compound that can be used in conjunction with platinum-based cancer treatments to powerful effect.

The new patented investigational anti-cancer compound, named NV-18, is now being evaluated in human clinical trials for the treatment of late-stage ovarian and prostate carcinomas.

The new drug is said to work against almost all human cancer types, and is particularly effective against melanoma and cholangiocarcinoma (cancer of the gall bladder).

In pre-clinical studies, NV-18, was found to render cancer cells susceptible to anti-cancer drugs such as those based on the taxane and platinum structures, which the firm said had proved " highly effective at killing cancer cells" on the back of this new breakthrough.

Novogen says it will now investigate further the potential for combining the new drug with platinum-based treatments.