Theralase Technologies Inc (TSX-V:TLT, OTCQB:TLTFF), a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company specializing in light and radiation-activated therapies, has announced that its lead drug formulation, Rutherrin, has shown promising results in a Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) animal model.
The research utilized a Lewis Lung Cancer (LLC1) orthotopic model, a well-established method for inducing aggressive, metastatic lung tumors in mice.
The study involved treating the mice with X-ray radiation alone as a control group and x-ray-activated Rutherrin as the experimental group.
Results indicated that mice treated with X-ray-activated Rutherrin exhibited up to a four-fold reduced tumor progression, based on Computerized Tomography (CT) scan assessment of tumor volumes.
Further analysis using the Kaplan-Meier curve demonstrated a notable increase in overall survival rates for the mice treated with x-ray activated Rutherrin versus radiation only."
Median survival increased from 26 to 35 days, versus radiation only, with one mouse achieving complete remission, verified by CT scan.
Dr Arkady Mandel, Chief Scientific Officer of Theralase, remarked, "The latest preclinical research demonstrates the ability of X-ray-activated Rutherrin to eradicate lung cancer in an animal model.
“This is initial research and through optimization, Theralase hopes to achieve a complete response in a much greater percentage of animals, but this initial data is extremely encouraging.
“As a result of this latest success, Theralase has committed to bringing this technology to market through the systematic research and development of this cutting-edge clinical therapy to safely and effectively destroy various cancers in patients.
“As a direct result, our list of cancer targets has increased from bladder cancer, which is in the late stage of clinical development, to encompass brain cancer, lung cancer and various blood-based cancers, such as leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma."
Roger DuMoulin-White, President and CEO of Theralase, said: "This latest research symbolizes the significant progress Theralase has made over the last few years in the research and development of world-class systemic and targeted therapies for the treatment of various hard-to-treat cancers, such as bladder cancer, brain and lung cancer.
“Pending sufficient capitalization and completion of a Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) toxicology analysis for Rutherrin, Theralase plans to commence clinical studies for brain cancer, lung cancer and various blood-based cancers.
“If proven safe and effective in humans, Theralase hopes to change the paradigm of how patients diagnosed with cancer are treated in the future."