Toronto, Ontario – January 20, 2021, Theralase® Technologies Inc. (“Theralase” or the “Company”) (TSXV: TLT) (OTCQB: TLTFF), a clinical stage pharmaceutical company focused on the research and development of light activated Photo Dynamic Compounds (“PDC”) and their associated drug formulations used to safely and effectively destroy various cancers, bacteria and viruses announced today that Urology Associates P.C. (“UA”) has received site Institutional Review Board (“IRB”) approval to commence a pivotal phase II Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (“NMIBC“) Clinical Study to enroll and treat patients with Bacillus Calmette Guerin(“BCG“)-Unresponsive Carcinoma In-Situ (“CIS“) or are intolerant to BCG Therapy (“Study II“).
Theralase has central IRB approval to launch a number of US clinical sites, subject to local site IRB approval. UA is the second site to receive both central and local site IRB approval. There are 4 additional US clinical study sites that have received central IRB approval and are expected to receive local IRB approval in 1Q2021.
Founded in the 1940s, Urology Associates, P.C. serves Middle Tennessee with over 20 board-certified urologists and 12 Advanced Practice Providers, providing male and female urological care in over 10 locations. They were the first practice to open a center solely dedicated to female urology in Nashville. Urology Associates are committed to the innovation and the integration of advanced technology and advanced therapeutics in their treatment offerings. The practice provides unique treatment options and specialized care in their Urology Surgery Center, Women’s Institute for Sexual Health (WISH) and Advanced Therapeutics Center. Urology Associates, P.C. was founded on the principles of compassionate, high-quality urological care, and continues to serve that mission.
Dr. Gautam Jayram, M.D., a Urologic Oncologist at UA and co-director of the Advanced Therapeutic Center stated “We are excited to work with Theralase on their clinical trial in NMIBC. The treatment landscape in bladder cancer is rapidly evolving and we are excited that UA is able to participate in this novel trial using Pivotal PhotoDynamic Therapy (“PDT”)”.
To date 14 patients have been treated in Study II. With the addition of UA, the Company now has 5 clinical study sites open in Canada and 2 in the US for patient enrollment and treatment.
Shawn Shirazi PhD, Chief Executive Officer, Theralase®, stated, “We are thrilled to have UA as a clinical study site. UA is now able to commence patient enrollment and treatment in the US. With addition of each clinical study sites in the US, we are getting closer to reaching our targeted total number of patients to be enrolled and treated for the study II.”
About Study II
Study II utilizes the Therapeutic Dose (0.70 mg/cm2) of TLD-1433 and is focused on the enrollment and treatment of approximately 100 BCG-Unresponsive NMIBC CIS patients in up to 20 clinical study sites located in Canada and the US.
Study II has a:
- Primary endpoint of efficacy (defined by Complete Response (“CR”) at any point in time
- Secondary endpoint of duration of CR at 360 days post-initial CR (approximately 450 days post initial Study treatment, assuming CR is achieved at the 90 day assessment)
- Tertiary endpoint of safety measured by incidence and severity of Adverse Events (“AEs”) grade 4 or higher that do not resolve within 450 days post-initial treatment
The FDA, in its 2018 guidance to industry has stated that, “For single-arm trials of patients with BCG-unresponsive disease, the FDA defines a CR as at least one of the following:
- Negative cystoscopy and negative (including atypical) urine cytology
- Positive cystoscopy with biopsy-proven benign or low-grade NMIBC and negative cytology
- For intravesical therapies without systemic toxicity, the FDA includes, in the definition of a CR, negative cystoscopy with malignant urine cytology, if cancer is found in the upper tract or prostatic urethra and random bladder biopsies are negative.
Intravesical instillation does not deliver the investigational drug to the upper tract or prostatic urethra; therefore, the development of disease in these areas cannot be attributed to a lack of activity of the investigational drug. Thus, sponsors can consider patients with new malignant lesions of the upper tract or prostatic urethra, who have received intravesical therapy to have achieved a CR in the primary analysis; however, sponsors should record these lesions and conduct sensitivity analyses in which these patients are not considered to have achieved a CR.“1
About Theralase® Technologies Inc.
Theralase® is a clinical stage pharmaceutical company dedicated to the research and development of light activated Photo Dynamic Compounds and their associated drug formulations intended to safely and effectively destroy various cancers, bacteria and viruses.
Additional information is available at www.theralase.com and www.sedar.com
Forward Looking Statement
This news release contains “forward-looking statements” which reflect the current expectations of management of the Company’s future growth, results of operations, performance and business prospects and opportunities. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company’s proposed development plans with respect to Photo Dynamic Compounds and their drug formulations. Wherever possible, words such as “may“, “would“, “could“, “should”, “will“, “anticipate“, “believe“, “plan“, “expect“, “intend“, “estimate“, “potential for” and similar expressions have been used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management’s current beliefs with respect to future events and are based on information currently available to management. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks, uncertainties and assumptions including with respect to the ability of the Company to: adequately fund, secure the requisite regulatory approvals to commence and successfully complete a Phase II NMIBC clinical study in a timely fashion and implement its development plans. Many factors could cause the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements; including, without limitation, those listed in the filings made by the Company with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities (which may be viewed at www.sedar.com). Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should assumptions underlying the forward looking statements prove incorrect, actual results, performance or achievements may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. These factors should be considered carefully and prospective investors should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in the press release are based upon what management currently believes to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure prospective investors that actual results, performance or achievements will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to revise forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise except as required by law. All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchanges) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
For More Information:
1.866.THE.LASE (843-5273)
416.699.LASE (5273)
Kristina Hachey, Chief Financial Officer
khachey@theralase.com
1 “BCG-Unresponsive Nonmuscle Invasive Bladder Cancer: Developing Drugs and Biologics for Treatment – Guidance for Industry” Dated: February 2018