Lorus Therapeutics Inc. announced on Tuesday that GTI-2040, its lead antisense drug, has demonstrated anti-tumor activity in animal models with human lymphoma tumors. The positive pre-clinical results reinforce the drug's strong anti-cancer properties when tested in a broad range of cancers.
Lorus' scientists at the company's research facility at Sunnybrook & Women's College Health Sciences Center have completed two independent pre-clinical experiments with GTI-2040 to assess the anti-tumor activity for the treatment of lymphoma.
In the first study, mice with established human lymphoma tumors were treated as a control group and received saline only. The treatment group received GTI-2040 every second day for 42 days. By day 23, all control group mice had died due to disease progression. The mice in the GTI-2040 treatment group survived until the end of the experimental period (73 days) with the exception of one mouse (69 days).
A second study confirmed the excellent anti-tumor activity of GTI-2040. Mice with established human lymphoma tumors were treated every second day with either saline or GTI-2040 for 44 days. The control group mice all died from disease progression by day 20. At day 44, the GTI-2040 mice continued treatment on a weekly basis, and all mice survived to the end of the experimental period (73 days).
"Although these are pre-clinical studies in mouse models, the results suggest GTI-2040 may be an effective therapy in the treatment of lymphoma," said Dr. Jim A. Wright, president, Lorus. "GTI-2040 has been shown to be well-tolerated in pre-clinical and clinical trials and is entering multiple Phase II clinical trials this year. These results emphasize the importance of quickly moving GTI-2040 through clinical studies to effectively evaluate the potential of this very promising new drug, and to have it available to patients as soon as possible."
Lymphoma is a general term for a group of cancers that originate in the lymphatic system.
When a lymphocyte undergoes a malignant change and begins to multiply, healthy cells become outnumbered, leading to tumors. Lymphoma results as the tumors enlarge the lymph nodes and other sites in the body.
Approximately 70,610 cases of lymphoma will be diagnosed in Canada and the United States in 2001, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is the fifth most common cancer in North America.
Lorus is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the research and development of cancer therapies. Lorus' goal is to capitalize on its research, pre-clinical, clinical and regulatory expertise by developing new drug candidates that can be used, either alone or in combination, to successfully manage cancer.
Through its own discovery efforts and an active acquisition and in-licensing program, Lorus is building a portfolio of promising anti-cancer drugs. Late-stage clinical developments and marketing will be done in cooperation with strategic pharmaceutical partners.
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Lorus Therapeutics Inc.
25-Jul-2001
