Theralase Technologies Inc (TSX-V:TLT, OTCQB:TLTFF) CEO Roger Dumoulin-White talked with Proactive about the company's recent advancements in cancer treatment with its lead compound Rutherrin.
Dumoulin-White discussed how Rutherrin is showing promise in overcoming chemoresistance when combined with the widely-used chemotherapy drug Cisplatin.
He also spoke about the potential for partnerships with other pharmaceutical companies to explore further combination therapies, which could significantly improve patient outcomes.
Proactive: Really interesting news release out today, talking more about Rutherrin. We've discussed this in the past, particularly its potential in cancer treatment and the importance of combining it with other treatments. Could you talk us through what you're seeing?
Roger Dumoulin-White: Certainly. Rutherrin has a lot of utility. It can be used on its own and activated by light, radiation, or sound waves. Recently, we've discovered it can also be activated with other drugs, such as Metformin, a common diabetes medication. However, our latest research shows that certain existing cancer treatments, like Cisplatin—a powerful and widely prescribed chemotherapy drug—start strong but lose effectiveness over time, a phenomenon known as chemoresistance.
So, you’re exploring how Rutherrin could address this chemoresistance?
Exactly. We've been looking at combining Cisplatin with Rutherrin. Our studies have shown that this combination significantly extends the survival of treated animals. If this can be translated to human patients, it could mean a considerable improvement in their outcomes, particularly by preventing the development of chemoresistance. And that's just with Cisplatin and Rutherrin alone—we haven’t even added Metformin or radiation into the mix, which could further enhance the results.
Does this suggest that Rutherrin could boost the efficacy of these existing drugs, or are we looking at something entirely new?
It’s a bit of both. I wouldn’t say it creates an entirely new drug, but they do work synergistically. While Cisplatin is already approved and in use, big pharma companies often explore combination therapies to enhance effectiveness. This is where Rutherrin could play a significant role by being part of such combinations, potentially minimizing side effects and improving patient survival by addressing chemoresistance.
What's the next step? More testing, or are you moving towards human trials?
Our next step is conducting a GLP toxicology study, which will allow us to determine the safe and effective human equivalent dose. We aim to do this in the fourth quarter, subject to funding. This study is crucial as it would pave the way for phase one clinical trials in humans. Success here could lead to partnering opportunities with other pharmaceutical companies interested in combining their drugs with Rutherrin for various conditions.
Quotes have been lightly edited for clarity and style