Race Oncology (ASX:RAC) has reported the results of preclinical work performed under contract by US-based Labcorp of a mouse model involving bisantrene in combination with carfilzomib.
Race said the combination was effective against human multiple myeloma.
Bisantrene is a small molecule chemotherapeutic. Carfilzomib, known as Amgen’s KYPROLIS, is a proteasome inhibitor.
While effective in treating multiple myeloma, carfilzomib has known heart toxicity side effects that preclude its use in patients with elevated cardiac risk factors. Race said it has previously discovered that bisantrene can protect human heart muscle cells from the toxicity caused by carfilzomib.
Race said that in the mouse model, treatment with bisantrene was found to significantly slow multiple myeloma disease progression, whereas carfilzomib at the maximum tolerated dosage showed no single-agent activity.
“Despite a lack of activity when used alone, carfilzomib, when combined with bisantrene, was able to slow disease progression more than bisantrene treatment alone,” said the company, adding, “These promising results suggest that the combination of bisantrene and carfilzomib is highly active and warrants further investigation as a potentially heart-safer treatment option for multiple myeloma patients.”
Race CEO Dr Daniel Tillett said, “It is always exciting to see the potential clinical utility of bisantrene grow. Carfilzomib is a highly active treatment for multiple myeloma, but it comes with very serious cardiotoxicity risks. The potential for using bisantrene to not only better treat multiple myeloma, but also protect patients from the heart damage caused by carfilzomib, is worthy of further investigation.”
