Theralase's PDC may help treat low-oxygen tumours
Ticker Symbol: C:TLT
Theralase's PDC may help treat low-oxygen tumours
Theralase Technologies Inc (C:TLT)
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Last Close 5/26/2014 $0.275
Tuesday May 27 2014 - News Release
Mr. Roger Dumoulin-White reports
THERALASE ANTI-CANCER TECHNOLOGY VALIDATED IN PRESTIGIOUS US CHEMISTRY PUBLICATION
Theralase Technologies Inc.'s latest research on photo dynamic compound technology, proven effective in the destruction of bacteria and cancer, has been peer reviewed and invited to be published in the prestigious U.S. Elsevier publication, Coordination Chemistry Reviews.
The new research presents how Theralase's new class of PDCs incorporates systems that act as dual Type I/II PDCs (able to work in oxygenated and non-oxygenated tissue), opening up the possibility of treating hypoxic (low oxygen) tumours with Photo Dynamic Therapy (PDT). These PDCs are remarkable in-vitro centromere binders (localizing to the nucleus of a cell) and photocleavers (ability to damage nucleus), thus destroying cells when exposed to light. They also exhibit no nucleic damage in the absence of light, supporting their high safety and tolerability. This PDT effect translates effectively to animals and has proven superior to the FDA approved PDC Photofrin(R), in this research. The ability to activate the Theralase PDCs from visible to Near Infra Red (NIR) light marks an unprecedented versatility that can be exploited to match treatment depth to tumour target depth, giving rise to PDCs for multi-wavelength activated PDT.Photo Dynamic Therapy (PDT) is an elegant method for destroying cancer cells. PDCs accumulate in cells intended for destruction and when light activated destroy the intended cell; hence, PDT is best described as a combination therapy that offers selectivity through local interactions between a PDC, light and oxygen. Briefly, light absorption by the PDC produces a reactive excited state that can participate in electron (Type I) or energy (Type II) transfer to ground state molecular oxygen forming either superoxide radical anions or cytotoxic singlet oxygen, respectively. The production of a cytotoxic (cell killing) burst of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), notably singlet oxygen has proven effective in eliminating tumours and/or tumour vasculature. The primary advantage of light-based approaches in treating diseases, such as cancer, is that guided light delivery confines drug activity to malignant sites; thereby, reducing collateral damage to surrounding healthy tissue. Consequently, due to the high photostability of the Theralase PDC, very low drug doses can be used (nanograms) with activation at higher light doses, simultaneously eliminating the side effects caused by conventional systemic chemotherapeutics, such as cisplatin. Dr. Arkady Mandel, Chief Scientific Officer of Theralase stated, "A number of successful efforts have been made by Theralase's research team to satisfy the clinical requirements and to improve the pharmaceutical and therapeutic properties of the original PDCs. The results of our collaborative research with Dr. Lothar Lilge's scientific team at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health (UHN) and Dr. Sherri McFarland's chemistry team at Acadia University (Acadia) reveal an unprecedented versatility and efficacy of the Theralase's PDCs. The research data published in the high impact journal Coordination Chemistry Reviews may lead to development of the first-line of patient specific PDT. I am delighted that Theralase has established a very strong partnership with UHN and Acadia to progress this pivotal technology to the next milestone, the completion of an orthotopic animal model for bladder cancer. Together with clinical guidance by Dr. Michael Jewett, a Professor of Surgery (Urology) at the University of Toronto and one of the lead clinician investigators and uro-oncologists at UHN, our research provides excellent preclinical support to Theralase to finalize the regulatory submissions and prepare us for a Phase 1/2a human clinical trial to evaluate the technology in patients inflicted with bladder cancer."Dr. Lothar Lilge PhD, Professor in the Department of Medical Biophysics at the University of Toronto, Senior Scientist, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network stated that the, "Publication of our research in Coordination Chemistry Reviews validates the importance of the efforts of Acadia University and UHN, with the fully committed support of Theralase, in developing a novel approach for the destruction of solid tumours, preferably in a single administration, thus significantly improving the quality of life of cancer patients. The results obtained to date provide strong support and encouragement to complete the small outstanding preclinical work at UHN to properly position this exciting technology for human clinical studies at the earliest feasible point in time."Dr. Sherri McFarland PhD, Professor of Chemistry at Acadia University stated that, "I am delighted to work with a strong partner such as Theralase in the development of these PDCs that I originally invented and optimized with the support of my partners. These PDCs have proven to be very potent compounds in the destruction of cancer cells in very small doses and I am excited to lead the development of the PDCs and be part of the team completing the preclinical work in 2014 to support human clinical studies in early 2015." Roger Dumoulin-White, President and CEO of Theralase stated that, "Coordination Chemistry Reviews is a highly renowned publication known for publishing chemistry research of the highest calibre. It is an honour for this cutting-edge research to be recognized in a publication of this level, further lending credence to the importance of the cancer research we are undertaking with our partners, UHN and Acadia. Targeting cancer cells regardless of tissue depth, enables Theralase to customize its patented technology to be "patient specific" to destroy cancer regardless of where it may reside in the body."
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