Theralase Technologies Inc (TSX-V:TLT, OTCQB:TLTFF) announced that new preclinical research has shown its lead drug formulation Rutherrin has demonstrated the ability to increase the efficiency of immunotherapy.
Immunotherapy aims to harness an individual’s immune system to detect and destroy cancer cells. It comes in various forms but the fundamental Mechanism of Action (MOA) of all these drugs is to stimulate the immune system to destroy cancer cells.
However, these same cancer cells develop mechanisms such as blocking the PD0L1 (checkpoint protein) to avoid detection by the immune system, resulting in resistance to immunotherapy.
To overcome this, multiple immunotherapy treatments are delivered to patients, which may ultimately reduce their efficacy and see a corresponding increase in patient serious adverse events and even treatment-related deaths.
Theralase’s latest research showed that Rutherrin enhances the MOA of immunotherapy by not only killing cancer cells directly but also significantly reducing the number of PD-L1 proteins expressed by cancer cells, in turn reducing the number of target checkpoint proteins that need to be blocked by checkpoint inhibitors.
The treatment of human cancer cells, specifically Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer and Glio Blastoma Multiforme, with Rutherrin significantly reduced the expression of PD-L1 checkpoint proteins on the surface of the cancer cells, allowing immunogenic drugs a greater opportunity to block those remaining.
Additionally, the combination of Rutherrin plus x-ray radiation was shown to increase the surface expression of Calreticulin, which essentially functions as an “eat me” signal for the immune system.
“The PD-L1 (immune checkpoint protein) functions as a ‘brake’ on the innate immune system, while Calreticulin (‘eat me’ signal) functions as an accelerator. We are very pleased to demonstrate that Rutherrin has the potential of releasing the ‘brake’ and applying the ‘accelerator’ to the immune system at the right time and thereby unleashing the power of our immune system to attack and destroy cancerous cells, while sparing healthy ones,” Theralase CEO Roger DuMoulin-White commented.
“By stimulating the inherent ability of our immune system to protect and defend our bodies against cancer, Rutherrin has the potential to establish an entirely new paradigm for cancer therapy."
Theralase chief scientific offer Dr Arkady Mandel added: “We are very pleased with the results of our latest research, demonstrating that our lead drug formulation, Rutherrin, is able to maintain a therapeutic balance between various ‘accelerators’ and ‘brakes’ of our immune system to ensure that it is sufficiently engaged in attack against malignant cells, while avoiding destruction of healthy cells and tissues.”
Theralase is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company dedicated to the research and development of light and/or radiation-activated small molecule compounds.