Two Auckland University researchers have helped develop a new anti-cancer compound.

Dr Adam Patterson and Dr Jeff Smaill are working with an American bio-technology company to begin human clinical trials.

Previous testing has shown it limits tumour growth in some lung cancers that are resistant to other treatments.

It's hoped the new compound will be more effective than other treatments and have fewer side effects.

Data on the new compound will be presented to the annual meeting of the American Association of Cancer Research in Philadelphia today.