IQ-AI Ltd's (LSE:IQAI, OTCQB:IQAIF) wholly-owned subsidiary Imaging Biometrics has noted the outcomes of two pre-clinical studies at the latest Society of Neuro-Oncology (SNO) Pediatric Conference held in Washington, DC.
The studies, led by Dr Mona Al-Gizawiy from the Medical College of Wisconsin, highlighted the inhibitory effects of oral gallium maltolate (GaM) on two types of pediatric brain tumours, namely atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumour (ATRT) and glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).
Notably, the oral GaM investigated in these studies is the same agent currently being assessed in a phase-I clinical trial for adult GBM, sponsored by IQ-AI.
The results from the studies aligned with earlier in vitro research conducted at the Medical College of Wisconsin, demonstrating that oral GaM inhibits tumour growth and provides a survival advantage.
In the control group, the median overall survival for ATRT was 89 days, while the treated group saw a significantly improved median overall survival of 170 days. Similarly, for GBM, the control group had a median overall survival of 21 days, whereas the treated group showed an extended median overall survival of 49 days.
Though brain tumors affect a relatively small number of children, with approximately 5,500 new cases diagnosed in the US in 2022, these tumours remain the primary cause of cancer-related deaths in the pediatric age group.
ATRT and GBM are particularly aggressive forms of brain tumours associated with unfavourable outcomes in children. The limited treatment options available contribute to the challenging prognosis.
In April, Imaging Biometrics applied for Orphan Drug Designation from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the use of GaM in pediatric brain tumours.
The application is presently undergoing review. If granted, this designation would support the development and evaluation of an innovative treatment option to address the unmet clinical needs of this vulnerable patient population.