Toronto, ON – March 28, 2012 - Theralase Technologies Inc. (TSXV: TLT) announced today that its anti-cancer Photo Dynamic Compound (PDC) technology was found to completely destroy subcutaneous (under the skin) colon cancer tumours in a mouse model. Four weeks post treatment; the mice continue to be cancer free.
Dr. Arkady Mandel, Chief Scientific Officer of Theralase said, “In cancer treatment, destroying the tumour is half the battle, while the other half is preventing the cancer from recurring. These findings are important because they demonstrate that our leading drug candidate in combination with a specific dose of light can prevent the cancer from returning. Preventing cancer from recurring in animal models is an important benchmark in developing new cancer therapeutics aimed at prolonging life."
Roger Dumoulin-White, President and CEO of Theralase Inc. stated, "The achievement of this important milestone signifies that Theralase’s leading drug PDC candidate is effective in the destruction of cancer in a live animal model and can prevent the cancer from recurring. Theralase's PDC technology was able to completely destroy subcutaneous cancer in mice and allow them to live cancer free for up to 4 weeks. Mice not treated with our PDC technology did not survive even 2 weeks. Based on recent successes in our research, we are confident that Theralase is well positioned to expedite the required steps to initiate human trials in the near future.”
Theralase’s work in this area will be presented at an International Symposium on “Photodynamic Therapy and Photodiagnosis in Clinical Practice” conference in Brixton, Italy in October 2012.
The following summarizes the research conducted by Theralase scientists:
- In early February, mice were injected under the skin with 350,000 colon cancer cells.
- All tumours were allowed to grow until they reached 5 mm in size.
- On February 21, 2012, half the mice were used as a control group where no therapy was administered, while the remaining animals became the treatment group and were administered an intratumour injection of Theralase’s lead PDC.
- The PDC was allowed to distribute within the cancerous tumour for 4 hours.
- The PDC was then activated by Theralase’s proprietary laser light protocol for 32 minutes.
- After 24 hours, the tumours were no longer visible on the treated mice.
- All mice were monitored and examined daily thereafter.
- Tumours in the control mice grew to the maximum allowable size of 12 mm, as determined by the study protocol, and did not survive for longer than 2 weeks.
- The mice treated with Theralase’s PDC technology continue to be cancer free four weeks post treatment.
Theralase has a growing portfolio of intellectual property patents protecting the Theralase PDC technology for many years. Theralase’s anti-cancer technology pipeline includes drug candidates, in various advanced stages of preclinical development thus preparing Theralase’s anti-cancer PDC technology the ability to enter human clinical trials as early as 2013.
About Theralase Technologies Inc.:
Theralase Technologies Inc. founded in 1995, designs, develops, manufactures and markets patented, superpulsed laser technology utilized in biostimulation and biodestruction applications. The technology is safe and effective in the treatment of chronic pain, neural muscular-skeletal conditions and wound healing. When combined with its patented, light-sensitive Photo Dynamic Compounds (PDCs), Theralase laser technology is able to specifically target and destroy cancers, bacteria and viruses, as well as microbial pathogens associated with food contamination. For further information please visit www.theralase.com, regulatory filings may be viewed by visiting www.sedar.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements which reflect the Company's current expectations regarding future events. The forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those projected herein. The Company disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchanges) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
For More Information
Roger Dumoulin-White
President & Chief Executive Officer
416-447-8455 ext. 225
rwhite@theralase.com
For the most part, colon cancer is an unpredictable disease, there's no knowing who will be affected by it. However, there are some people who inherit it and know they will develop cancer, eventually.
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