- Race Oncology (RAC) announces its Zantrene product can protect mice hearts from permanent damage caused by anthracyclines which is an anti-cancer treatment
- While they’re a highly effective chemotherapy treatment, anthracyclines can cause serious side effects, including cardiotoxicity, which Zantrene could potentially combat
- The new findings are reportedly the first evidence of its kind to show there’s a therapy that targets cancer while protecting the heart
- Race says the results support future clinical trials using Zantrene in combination with anthracyclines to improve cancer patient treatment
- Company shares are up 7.53 per cent to trade at $2.00 at 11:57 am AEST
Race Oncology (RAC) has shared more interim results from a preclinical cardioprotection program that’s been undertaken with the University of Newcastle.
The research program aimed to explore the use of the company’s Zantrene product as a cardioprotective agent which offered synergy with anti-cancer treatments.
Zantrene showed it can protect the hearts of mice from permanent damage caused by anthracyclines, specifically doxorubicin, which are one of the most effective anti-cancer treatments and are used to treat millions of cancer patients every year.
Results also showed that Zantrene could significantly reduce doxorubicin-induced heart damage when combined with doxorubicin.
While highly effective, anthracycline chemotherapeutics are likely to cause side effects such as cardiotoxicity, suppression of the immune system and red blood cell production, hair loss, and gastrointestinal toxicity.
University of Newcastle Associate Professor Aaron Sverdlov said there aren’t yet any widely used strategies to protect the heart against chemotherapy damage.
“These results suggest that Zantrene can concomitantly provide protection against toxic effects on the heart from one of the most used chemotherapy agents, doxorubicin,” Mr Sverdlov said.
“This is the first evidence of its kind to demonstrate that there is a therapy that both targets the cancer and protects the heart!”
Race Chief Scientific Officer Dr Daniel Tillett said it’s pleased to know Zantrene can protect human heart muscle cells from anthracycline induced death, as well as the hearts of animals.
“When combined with the historical clinical data around Zantrene heart safety, we believe Zantrene may offer millions of patients a unique combination of cardioprotection with enhanced anti-cancer efficacy. Such opportunities are rare in oncology,” he said.
Company shares were up 7.53 per cent to trade at $2.00 at 11:57 am AEST.