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Zantrene Protects Mouse Hearts from Chemotherapy Damage
30 June 2022 – Race Oncology Limited (“Race”) is pleased to share further interim results from our preclinical cardioprotection program in collaboration with researchers from the University of Newcastle (ASX announcement: 28 April 2021). This program aimed at exploring the use of Zantrene® (bisantrene dihydrochloride) as a cardioprotective agent which offered synergy with anti-cancer treatments.
Zantrene was found to protect the hearts of mice from the damaging effects of anthracyclines (specifically doxorubicin) even when the chemotherapeutic dose was increased without significant additional toxicity or bone marrow suppression.
”Extending the initial cardioprotection study from cells to hearts is a major step forward for Race. We now know Zantrene is not only able to protect human heart muscle cells from anthracycline induced death, but that this also applies to hearts in 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.”
Chief Scientific Officer, Dr Daniel Tillett
“To date, there are no widely used or well- established strategies to protect the heart against chemotherapy-induced damage. Furthermore, the concept of potential cancer therapy that is not only non-cardiotoxic, but cardioprotective has not been evaluated or even entertained. These results suggest that Zantrene, an effective anti-cancer agent, can concomitantly provide protection against toxic effects on the heart from one of the most used chemotherapy agents, doxorubicin. This is the first evidence of its kind to demonstrate that there is a therapy that both targets the cancer and protects the heart! This has the potential to improve health outcomes for countless cancer patients and survivors by both improving their cancer treatment while preventing development of cardiovascular disease.”
Associate Professor Aaron Sverdlov
“It’s pleasing to see our strategic ambitions for cardioprotection independently validated at an animal level which enables us to prioritise clinical translation. We are committed to producing further preclinical data that will continue to prove the case for this opportunity for Zantrene. It’s certainly a large commercial opportunity and one that’s got significant potential to improve modern chemotherapy.”
Chief Executive Officer, Mr Phillip Lynch