- Pharma stock Theralase Technologies (TSXV:TLT) has found pre-clinical evidence that its lead drug candidate, Rutherrin, is activated by Metformin, a common diabetes drug, without the use of light and/or radiation
- The discovery charts a course for Rutherrin to be administered at home, or on an out-patient basis, significantly expanding patient access
- Theralase is developing light and/or radiation-activated compounds, associated drug formulations and the light systems that activate them to destroy various cancers, bacteria and viruses
- Theralase stock last traded at C$0.18 per share and has given back 22.92 per cent over the past five years
Pharma stock Theralase Technologies (TSXV:TLT) has found pre-clinical evidence that its lead drug candidate, Rutherrin, is activated by Metformin, a common diabetes drug, without the use of light and/or radiation.
Rutherrin uses a light-activated compound known as Ruvidar to destroy targeted cells and has been shown to be effective across numerous potential applications, including:
Now the pharma stock is solidifying these multi-billion-dollar addressable markets, noting in Wednesday’s news release that Metformin increased Rutherrin’s effectiveness in a series of experiments on treatment-resistant non-small cell lung cancer cells, doing away with the need for an operating room visit for compound activation and opening the door for out-patient and in-home treatment options.
Theralase also notes that because Rutherrin and Metformin both cross the blood-brain barrier, as well as tumour-specific blood barriers, their combination potentially allows Rutherrin to target cancer cells anywhere in the body, including the brain.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Metformin in 1994 for the treatment of Type-2 diabetes. It is the only anti-diabetic medication prescribed for the preventative treatment of prediabetes and boasts a recommendation from the American Diabetes Association.
Theralase will now turn its attention to identifying other drugs Rutherrin reacts favourably with to expand its reach to other unmet needs.
Leadership insights
“The ability to activate Rutherrin with commonly available drugs like Metformin significantly opens the clinical applications of Rutherrin in the destruction of various cancers,” Arkady Mandel, Theralase’s chief scientific officer, said in a statement. “Rutherrin, when activated by light and/or radiation, leads to the production of Reactive Oxygen Species, which is one of the key mechanisms of action in the destruction of cancer by the compound. Synergistic activation of Rutherrin using a drug such as Metformin, with or without radiation exposure, opens up a wide range of advantageous opportunities for practitioners to treat patients outside the operating room. In addition, this latest research supports a whole new line of research; specifically, identifying additional drugs as potential synergistic candidates for activating Rutherrin in the destruction of various cancers.”
“The activation of Rutherrin by Metformin is a game-changer in the clinical use of Rutherrin. By activating it, without light and/or radiation, this treatment can significantly be expanded to offering it on an out-patient basis or even an in-home treatment basis,” added Roger DuMoulin-White, Theralase’s president and chief executive officer. “Traditionally, Rutherrin is required to be activated by laser light and/or radiation, but now it is envisioned that Rutherrin can be instilled in the body via IV drip followed by activation with Metformin, taken orally. This can be accomplished virtually anywhere, and if required, can be accompanied by hospital-based radiation treatments if the disease state requires it. Based on the latest research, pending Good Laboratory Practices toxicology analysis of Rutherrin and regulatory approval, Theralase plans to commence practitioner-led and/or Theralase-led clinical studies in the destruction of various cancers. The clear advantage is that light and/or radiation equipment is no longer a prerequisite and the procedure can be completed outside of the hospital or expensive operating room, significantly lowering the cost of providing the treatment and the burden on elderly patients with limited mobility. We look forward to commercializing this technology and its ease of delivery for the benefit of all patients stricken with this terrible disease.”
About Theralase Technologies
Theralase is developing light and/or radiation-activated compounds, associated drug formulations and the light systems that activate them to destroy various cancers, bacteria and viruses.
Theralase stock (TSXV:TLT) last traded at C$0.18 per share. The stock has given back 22.92 per cent year-over-year and over the past five years.
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