Medicus Pharma (NASDAQ:MDCX) marked Men’s Health Awareness Month on Monday by underscoring new academic research focused on improving treatment options for prostate and skin cancers, two of the most common cancers affecting men.
The biotechnology and life sciences company is advancing the clinical development of novel therapeutic candidates, including non-invasive treatments for basal cell skin cancer and next-generation therapies for advanced prostate conditions.
Medicus noted that while existing therapies have improved outcomes in advanced prostate cancer, many patients continue to face challenges, including heightened cardiovascular risks associated with hormone deprivation treatments.
“While hormone deprivation therapy has long been the standard for advanced prostate cancer, most of the drugs in this category can raise cardiovascular risks,” Medicus CEO Dr Raza Bokhari said in a statement.
“Medicus Pharma is developing next-generation hormone deprivation therapies for advanced stage prostate cancer that may protect the heart while effectively controlling the cancer.”
Medicus Pharma also pointed to unmet needs in skin cancer care, particularly for basal cell carcinoma. The cancer, which affects millions of Americans annually, is commonly treated with Mohs surgery, a procedure that can be costly, painful, and not always accessible.
According to the company, researchers at Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh have developed a patented dissolvable microneedle patch designed to deliver a chemotherapeutic agent directly to cancerous lesions. The patch is intended to provoke an immune response that targets cancer cells, potentially reducing reliance on surgical interventions.
“This new dissolvable microneedle skin patch delivers chemotherapy directly to the lesion, offering a non-surgical, more accessible and patient-friendly option that could transform future skin cancer care,” Dr Bokhari added.