- Theralase Technologies (TSXV:TLT) has shown in pre-clinical trials that its flagship Rutherrin, when activated by X-Ray, is more effective in the treatment of muscle-invasive bladder cancer than radiation alone
- The clinical-stage pharmaceutical company is researching and developing energy-activated small molecules designed to destroy cancer, bacteria and viruses
- Theralase stock last traded at C$0.27 and has given back 3.57 per cent since 2021
Theralase Technologies (TSXV:TLT) has shown in pre-clinical trials that its flagship Rutherrin, when activated by X-Ray, is more effective in the treatment of muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) than radiation alone.
This content has been prepared as part of a partnership with Theralase Technologies Inc. and is intended for informational purposes only. The author owns shares in the company, but has not been paid by Theralase Technologies Inc. or any third party for this article.
Rutherrin, which relies on energy-activated molecules, enhanced radiation in combination therapy, achieving complete tumor clearance in all mice undergoing treatment, potentially reducing the number of MIBC patients who will eventually require a radical cystectomy or bladder removal. Concurrently, 50 per cent of the radiation-only group showed tumor growth while 50 per cent reached their humane endpoint.
According to Monday’s news release, about one quarter of the more than 83,000 new bladder cancer cases per year in the United States and more than 13,000 in Canada are at high risk of death.
Theralase intends to further demonstrate this successful result in a Phase 0/I/II adaptive clinical study comparing radiation-activated Rutherrin, chemotherapy and immunotherapy, potentially supporting the drug as an alternative to both radiation and Tri Modal Therapy, an emerging treatment option that combines trans-urethral tumor removal, radiation and chemotherapy.
Management commentary
“These preclinical findings demonstrate that Rutherrin selectively accumulates in MIBC tumors versus healthy bladder tissue and significantly enhanced the therapeutic effect of radiation,” Mark Roufaiel, research scientist at Theralase, said in a statement. “Most importantly, we observed complete tumor clearance in X-Ray-activated Rutherrin-treated animals, even under low radiation dosing conditions. This supports the potential of Rutherrin to improve radiation response and expand treatment options for patients with aggressive MIBC.”
“Treatment options for MIBC patients are limited to cisplatin-based chemotherapy before RC or TMT. Preclinical data collected supports the clinical opportunity of employing X-Ray-activated Rutherrin in the treatment of difficult-to-treat cancers, such as, glioblastoma multiforme, non-small cell lung cancer, as previously reported, and now based on the recent data, MIBC,” added Arkady Mandel, chief scientific officer at Theralase. “In preclinical studies, mice treated with radiation alone did not survive or continued to show detectable cancer with rapid tumor progression; whereas, mice treated with a combination of Rutherrin and radiation therapy showed no detectable cancer. These results will hopefully lay the groundwork for new therapeutic approaches for patients faced with these challenging diseases.”
“The combination of selective tumor uptake by Rutherrin, demonstrated X-Ray enhancement in vitro, accelerated tumor regression and complete tumor destruction in vivo at low radiation doses collectively supports the executive decision by Theralase to pursue clinical development of Rutherrin as a radiation sensitizer in patients diagnosed with GBM, NSCLC and MIBC, subject to regulatory approval,” concluded Roger DuMoulin-White, president, chair and chief executive officer at Theralase.
About Theralase Technologies
Theralase is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company researching and developing energy-activated small molecules designed to destroy cancer, bacteria and viruses.
Theralase stock (TSXV:TLT) last traded at C$0.27 and has given back 3.57 per cent since 2021.
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