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Race Oncology (ASX:RAC) lines up heart safety study for anti-cancer drug

Health Care
ASX:RAC      MCAP $192.7M
28 April 2021 11:10 (AEST)
Race Oncology (ASX:RAC) - Managing Director & CEO, Phil Lynch

Source: Race Oncology

Race Oncology (RAC) is set to team up with The University of Newcastle to investigate the heart safety of its Bisantrene drug over chemotherapeutics.

Specifically, the collaborative preclinical programme is set to assess the molecular mechanisms of Bisantrene’s heart safety capabilities, using current molecular biology techniques.

According to Race, Bisantrene is a “small molecule anti-cancer drug which has potential as both a low dose, highly targeted precision oncology agent and a high dose, less cardiotoxic chemotherapeutic.”

While the drug’s heart safety has been demonstrated in clinical trials, how it avoids causing cardiotoxicity is unknown.

This trial will investigate Race’s treatment in comparison with anthracycline therapeutics which are commonly used in the treatment of breast cancer.

Cardiotoxicity researchers at the University of Newcastle, Associate Professors Aaron Sverdlov and Doan Ngo, will lead the project with preclinical studies to start immediately.

Results are expected to be reported over the coming 12 months.

Race Oncology’s Chief Scientific Officer Dr Daniel Tillett spoke highly of the upcoming studies.

“This is an exciting development for Race and we are looking forward to collaborating with Assistant Professors Sverdlov and Ngo on this important project. Understanding how Bisantrene works at a molecular level to avoid damage to the heart will aid all our clinical plans,” he commented.

Race Oncology shares are up 1.61 per cent this morning, trading at $3.16 at 10:49 am AEST.

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