RE:Glioblastoma (GBM) = Orphan drug = Benefits ... TLC3000 ready to commercialize now.
Bacteria PDC's ready to commercialize now.
Brain cancer PDC treatment potentially ready for trials in short notice as well.
It's exciting to consider the potential. As for brain cancer, they started to make progress with this before their new PDC's... since then they identified new generation PDC's... now the lead PDC and of course they started their focus on bladder cancer.
2009 - Old PDCs
In March 2009, in-vitro experiments conducted at the Ontario Cancer Institute at Princess Margaret Hospital demonstrated complete destruction of brain tumour cells (9L) following application of the Company's patented PDCs and subsequent activation with the Company's TLC-3000 light source. The PDCs or TLC-3000 activation light source, when used individually, had no effect on normal cells or cancerous cells, attesting to the safety of both the PDCs and TLC-3000 light source; however, when combined this technology completed eradicated all brain tumour cells, proving the efficacy of this type of leading edge therapy in the destruction of cancer cells. This destructive effect was proven in a number of the PDCs evaluated, supporting the understanding that the patented PDC platform could produce multiple lead compounds, custom designed for targeting specific cancerous cells, dependent upon the application.
The research and development has further demonstrated that photoactivation of the PDCs can be achieved in the absence of oxygen furthering their usefulness in the destruction of cancer.
Lothar Lilge Ph.D., lead researcher on the project stated, "I am excited about the possibilities and opportunities that these PDCs present in the destruction of cancer cells. An oxygen independent reaction is unique for this type of cancer therapy, where low oxygen conditions pose a major problem. The ability to completely destroy cancer cells in the absence of oxygen presents the unique opportunity of treating solid tumours of the breast, prostate, lung and brain, to name a few." Further investigation is currently underway with the Theralase PDC platform with a variety of cancer and bacteria cell lines in order to identify the lead candidate PDC and cancer cell line to evaluate in a small animal cancer model"
2011 - New PDCs
Theralase Technologies Inc. announced today results of investigational studies demonstrating destruction of specific brain and colon cancer cell lines.
https://www.marketwired.com/press-release/theralase-successfully-expands-cancer-destruction-applications-tsx-venture-tlt-1578504.htm
"This new research expands the application of Theralase's patented PDC technology in the cancer field and introduces the potential for a successful impact on two devastating forms of cancer; specifically, brain and colon cancer. Our research has demonstrated a significant kill rate of greater than 90% in specific human brain and colon cancer cells lines. These results now lay the groundwork for further pre-clinical trials, which if proved successful may lead to human clinical trials. Theralase plans to aggressively pursue commercialization of its ground-breaking PDT technology through the accelerated FDA regulatory approval process. This FDA process "fast-tracks" approval when a treatment is shown, through proven success rate, to have a positive impact on serious, life-threatening medical conditions for which no other drug or treatment exists or is as effective. Theralase also plans to continue its research and development to optimize its PDCs, from the same platform, to destroy a variety of life threatening cancers."
2012 - in-vivo progress - bladder cancer identified as primary target
Q1’ 12
Successful preclinical studies showing complete destruction of various brain and colon cancer cell lines in-vivo and in live
animal trials using Theralase PDCs
Q3’ 12
Bladder Cancer identified as primary target for Advanced Photo Dynamic Therapy in FDA clinical trials
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https://investorintel.com/biotech-intel/theralases-photodynamic-therapy-offers-targeted-non-invasive-cure-cancer/
Theralase has chosen to target bladder cancer because the bladder is an easier to access organ than others. A catheter is all that is needed, whereas other organs such as the brain or the pancreas would require invasive procedures, expensive operations and anesthesiology. Bladder cancer is, therefore, an easier organ to examine for the initial phase – subjects will be recruited in 2015 – and it is also the fifth most common cancer with a very high recurrence (80% plus). Nevertheless, Theralase has already gathered sufficient evidence from studies at the Princess Margaret Cancer Center in Toronto that its technology is effective across a wide range of cancers: brain cancer, breast cancer, prostate, pancreatic, bladder, lung or colorectal.
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Conclusion
Brain cancer would be an invasive procedure, expensive operations and require anesthesiology but the science for TLT PDCs is just as promising. Once TLT has initial success in bladder trials or increased resources,,,, they can move on to other indications with this same promise.
Don't forget the presentations we've all been looking at for awhile now. See PDC efficacy vs ALA (current fda approved drug) in TLTs corporate presentations.
Theralase can accomplish up to 100% kill rate with just a .0003 concentration with human brain cancer (glioblastoma)
So even though we're focused on bladder cancer... the potential for the new generation TLT PDCs to target other fastrack qualifying cancers is very exciting. Legwork on other cancer indications could start now if TLT wanted to expand... or if bladder is successful, obviously that track record will speed the process for future indications.