Theralase Technologies Inc. (
TSX: V.TLT,
OTCQB: TLTFF,
Forum) is getting closer to perfecting a highly-effective anti-cancer therapy, in research that has advanced through to the stage of human, clinical studies. This much is well-known to healthcare and tech investors at Stockhouse, where the Company has a strong following.
Theralase has been featured in a number of previous Stockhouse feature articles, beginning with a
full-length feature that asked the question:
Is a Trojan Horse the Key to Curing Cancer?
Investors wanting a deeper understanding of this technology should refer to that original article. In a nutshell, the Company is able to deliver a patented light-activated drug (“photo-dynamic compound”)
inside cancer cells and then use a particular laser light to transform this Trojan Horse into a cancer-killer.
It works.
This has been the consistent finding through the completion of a Phase I study and now
ready to begin a formal Phase II efficacy study on human patients, approved by Health Canada. As Theralase advances through this clinical studies process, the Company has been refining this treatment and achieving more and more significant results.
TLT’s lead research is focusing on bladder cancer, a multi-billion dollar market for cancer treatment in the United States alone. More specifically, TLT is targeting “non-muscle invasive bladder cancer” (NMIBC).
In
November, a Stockhouse feature article reported that a test patient became cancer-free after a single treatment. Meanwhile, Theralase has been reporting a string of milestones in terms of
keeping test patients cancer-free. This is part of a series of successful results from this Phase I clinical study.
In the Company’s latest news, reported on
January 30 and
January 31, 2019, TLT has reported (respectively) that Patient Six was cancer-free nine months after receiving cancer treatment and
Patient Five was cancer-free 12 months after receiving cancer treatment.
While the Company is careful to observe that this doesn’t constitute a “cure” for this form of bladder cancer, Interim CEO and Chief Scientific Officer Arkady Mandel was pleased to frame the latest results for investors.
“Today, we received additional evidence that even a single treatment with Theralase's Photo Dynamic Therapy ("PDT") is able to lead to a Complete Response ("CR") at 360 days post treatment for patients presenting with Bacillus Calmete Guérin ("BCG")-Unresponsive NMIBC. This provides further support of the enormous opportunity that awaits Theralase in the treatment of NMIBC.”
What’s next for Theralase and its anti-cancer research? As noted, the Company has already received Health Canada approval to commence a Phase II clinical study for NMIBC in Canada, and is pursuing filing an Investigational New Drug application (“
IND”) with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the U.S.
CEO Mandel offered additional guidance.
“I look forward to providing updates on the Phase II NMIBC clinical study when it commences. The Theralase Anti-Cancer Technology is also multi-faceted, in that the technology is able to be adapted to the treatment of additional cancer indications, if successfully validated in independent clinical studies. Pending successful commencement of the Phase II NMIBC clinical study, the Company plans to investigate the commencement of an additional Phase Ib clinical study for a new cancer indication.” [emphasis mine]
Pioneering a new form of cancer treatment isn’t fast. But with the human costs so high and potential economic rewards so great, it remains the Holy Grail of healthcare research. As Theralase continues this quest, its shareholders are getting closer to replacing one “c” word (cancer) with another one –
cure.
theralase.com
FULL DISCLOSURE: This is a paid article of Stockhouse Publishing.