Theralase Technologies Inc (TSX-V:TLT, OTCQB:TLTFF) announced that preclinical research results for its lead drug formulation, Rutherrin, has demonstrated its effectiveness in enhancing chemotherapy efficacy.
The drug formulation also showed success in reducing multidrug resistance (MDR) in cancer treatment, the company reported.
In the study, cancer cells treated with Rutherrin showed increased retention of various chemotherapeutic drugs, including temozolomide, gemcitabine, and cisplatin, indicating inhibited ABC transporter activity.
Further tests confirmed that Rutherrin enhanced cancer cell death when combined with these drugs.
Chemotherapy, a primary cancer treatment, often faces the challenge of MDR, where cancer cells expel drugs, reducing treatment efficacy over time. MDR commonly involves the overexpression of ATP-Binding Cassette transporters, which act as drug efflux pumps. Rutherrin was tested to inhibit these pumps, leading to higher intracellular drug accumulation.
Additionally, a mouse model with colorectal cancer demonstrated that the combination of Rutherrin and the chemotherapy drug vinblastine significantly delayed tumor progression and improved survival compared to individual treatments.
As Dr. Arkady Mandel, Chief Scientific Officer at Theralase explained, treating cancer cells with Rutherrin enables chemotherapeutic drugs to stay in the cancer cells longer and in greater amounts.
This tumor-specific drug accumulation helps minimize the exposure of healthy cells to chemotherapy, thereby enhancing treatment effectiveness and reducing the adverse effects of cancer therapy.
“We are very pleased with the results of our latest experiments, which have paved the way for a clinical study investigation of Rutherrin, combined with chemotherapy, for synergistic combinational cancer treatment to overcome MDR,” Mandel said.
Roger DuMoulin-White, Theralase’s CEO, expressed optimism about Rutherrin’s potential to combat MDR and improve cancer treatment outcomes.
“Theralase's small molecule formulations possess significant potential in optimizing cancer treatments, as it is well documented scientifically, that the transferrin receptor, which is the target of Rutherrin, is highly expressed in virtually all cancer cell types,” the CEO added.
Shares of Theralase were up 2.6% in Toronto by midday.