Toronto, Ontario – September 27, 2023, Theralase® Technologies Inc. (“Theralase®” or the “Company”) (TSXV: TLT) (OTCQB: TLTFF) is a clinical stage pharmaceutical company that is dedicated to the research and development of light and radiation activated Photo Dynamic Compounds (“PDCs”), their associated drug formulations and the light systems that activate them. These PDCs are intended to safely and effectively destroy various cancers, bacteria and viruses when light or radiation activated.
Theralase® announced that it has successfully completed its non-Good Laboratory Practices (“GLP”) preclinical toxicology analysis of Rutherrin® for Glio Blastoma Multiforme (“GBM”). GBM is the most aggressive and most common type of brain cancer.
The preclinical toxicology data collected to date has demonstrated that Theralase®’s Rutherrin® (RuvidarTM + human transferrin) PDC is able to be safely administered Intra Venously (“IV”) into brain cancer animal models and then successfully hunt, target and significantly accumulate inside GBM cells versus healthy brain cells. When the PDC is activated by radiation therapy, such as X-ray radiation, it effectively destroys GBM tumour cells. In addition, to providing a strong cancer killing effect the technology is able to induce Immunogenic Cell Death (“ICD”) and certain anti-tumour protective responses, preventing further growth of the GBM tumour cells.
Theralase® is forwarding a summary of the preclinical data to Health Canada for review and response on a GLP toxicology program to be completed by the Company by 1Q2024.
Based on the successful completion of the GLP toxicology program, Theralase® intends to commence a Phase Ia/Ib dose escalating clinical study in 2024 in patients diagnosed with GBM to determine the appropriate clinical dose of the drug from both a toxicity and tumour localization perspective. This phase will also look at radiation activation of a single IV dose of Rutherrin®.
Following the successful completion of the Phase Ia/Ib clinical study, Theralase® plans to commence a Phase IIa/IIb clinical study in Canada and the United States focused on enrolling and treating patients diagnosed with recurrent GBM, with multiple radiation activated doses of Rutherrin®.
Dr. Arkady Mandel, MD, PhD, DSc, Chief Scientific Officer of Theralase® stated, “Theralase®’s scientific team has worked tirelessly to research and develop Rutherrin® as an IV PDC that post administration is able to be activated by radiation therapy to hunt, target and destroy GBM. The GLP toxicology program that Theralase® is completing will lay the groundwork for Rutherrin® to be IV administered for numerous other cancers; including: Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (“NSCLC”), pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, kidney cancer and colorectal cancer. I look forward to commencing the clinical study program evaluation of this versatile and effective drug in 2024.”
Mr. Roger DuMoulin-White, BSc, P.Eng, Pro.Dir, President and Chief Executive Officer of Theralase® stated, “Dr. Mandel and his scientific team have conducted numerous in-vitro and in-vivo experiments to compile this body of preclinical work to be able to bring Rutherrin® to the GLP toxicology analysis stage and then pending successful completion onto clinical development. The use of human transferrin in animal models has proven difficult to overcome, but the hard work and dedication of the Theralase® team have successfully completed this work to bring Theralase® to the next step.”
About Theralase® Technologies Inc.:
Theralase® is a clinical stage pharmaceutical company dedicated to the research and development of light and radiation activated compounds, their associated drug formulations and the light systems that activate them, with a primary objective of efficacy and a secondary objective of safety in the destruction of various cancers, bacteria and viruses.
Additional information is available at www.theralase.com and www.sedar.com
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Forward Looking Statement
This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company’s proposed development plans with respect to Photo Dynamic Compounds and their drug formulations and a COVID-19 vaccine. Forward looking statements may be identified by the use of the words “may, “should“, “will“, “anticipates“, “believes“, “plans“, “expects“, and similar expressions including statements related to the current expectations of Company’s management for future research, development and commercialization of the Company’s COVID vaccine, including preclinical research, clinical studies and regulatory approvals.
These statements involve significant risks, uncertainties and assumptions; including, the ability of the Company to: adequately fund, and secure the requisite regulatory approvals to successfully complete clinical studies for a COVID-19 vaccine in a timely fashion and implement its development plans. Other risks include: the ability of the Company to successfully commercialize its drug formulations, the risk that access to sufficient capital to fund the Company’s operations may not be available or may not be available on terms that are commercially favorable to the Company, the risk that the Company’s drug formulations may not be effective against the diseases tested in its clinical studies, the risk that the Company’s fails to comply with the term of license agreements with third parties and as a result loses the right to use key intellectual property in its business, the Company’s ability to protect its intellectual property, the timing and success of submission, acceptance and approval of regulatory filings, and the impacts of public health crises, such as COVID-19. Many of these factors that will determine actual results are beyond the Company’s ability to control or predict.
Readers should not unduly rely on these forward- looking statements which are not a guarantee of future performance. There can be no assurance that forward looking statements will prove to be accurate as such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results or future events to differ materially from the forward looking statements.
Although the forward-looking statements contained in the press release are based upon what management currently believes to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure prospective investors that actual results, performance or achievements will be consistent with these forward-looking statements.
All forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and are subject to change. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update such statements.
For More Information:
1.866.THE.LASE (843-5273)
416.699.LASE (5273)
www.theralase.com
Kristina Hachey, CPA
Chief Financial Officer
khachey@theralase.com
416.699.LASE (5273) x 224