Race Oncology Ltd (ASX:RAC) has extended its collaborative cardio-protective research program for Zantrene® (bisantrene dihydrochloride) with eminent cardiotoxicity researchers at The University of Newcastle.
Zantrene has been shown in preclinical studies to protect human heart muscle cells from chemotherapy-induced cell death while synergising with chemotherapy drugs to better kill cancer cells.
Notably, the collaborative research program extended and expanded to explore the cardioprotective potential of Zantrene with additional anti-cancer drugs that can damage the heart in both cell culture and animal models.
Three-pillar strategy
Race revealed an updated three-pillar strategy at the 2021 annual general meeting, building on the recent discovery that Zantrene is able to protect heart muscle cells from both anthracycline and carfilzomib-induced death while also better-targeting cancer cells.
This strategically important collaboration will underpin a cardio-protective phase 2b clinical trial in cancer patients at high risk of anthracycline-induced heart damage, which is expected to begin treating patients in late 2022.
This program will cost $322,000 and start immediately, with results to be reported over the next 12 months.
Eminent researchers
Race's chief scientific officer, Dr Daniel Tillett, said: “The success of our collaboration with Associate Professors Aaron Sverdlov and Doan Ngo has been exceptional to date.
“We all look forward to uncovering all the cardio-protection secrets Zantrene has to reveal.”
Associate professors Aaron Sverdlov and Doan Ngo lead the dedicated Australian-first, bench-to-bedside “Cancer and the Heart” clinical and basic research program at the University of Newcastle, Hunter Medical Research Institute, Hunter New England Local Health District and Calvary Mater Newcastle Hospitals.
In recognition of this important initiative, associate professor Aaron Sverdlov was awarded the 2018 Ministerial Award for Rising Stars in Cardiovascular Research.
Associate professor Doan Ngo, a co-lead of the program, was awarded a NSW Health EMC Fellowship in Cardio-Oncology (2018- 2021) and the highly prestigious National Heart Foundation Future Leader Fellowship (2021-2025) for her cardio-oncology program of work.
About Zantrene®
Zantrene is a potent inhibitor of the Fatso/Fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) protein.
Clinically, an overexpression of FTO has been shown to be the genetic driver of a diverse range of cancers.
Now, Race is exploring Zantrene as a new therapy for melanoma and clear cell renal cell carcinoma, which are both frequent FTO over-expressing cancers.
In breakthrough pre-clinical research, Race has also discovered that Zantrene protects from anthracycline-induced heart damage, while in tandem acting with anthracyclines and proteasome inhibitors to improve their ability to target breast cancer.