RS Oncology, LLC announces the initiation of its MITOPE Phase 1/2 clinical trial for the treatment of patients with malignant pleural effusion and mesothelioma
Cambridge, Mass., 24 February 2022 — RS Oncology, LLC, (RSO) a biotechnology company focused on the treatment of patients with malignant pleural effusion (MPE) and mesothelioma, announces the opening of its first-in-human Phase 1/2 clinical trial (MITOPE) at the University Hospitals of Leicester in the U.K. RSO will be evaluating its novel treatment, RSO-021, against mitochondrial PRX3 enzyme, regulating oxidative stress pathways in cancer cells.
This novel therapeutic approach has proven in pre-clinical studies to significantly reduce tumor burden in malignant mesothelioma and other cancer types by irreversibly binding and inhibiting PRX3 enzyme in the antioxidant signaling network within the mitochondria of malignant cells.
“The RSO team is excited to begin treating patients at The University of Leicester, U.K. The MITOPE trial is a culmination of substantial innovative work completed by our academic collaborators at University of Vermont, College of Medicine and Wake Forest School of Medicine. This trial is an important step in improving treatment options for people suffering from malignant pleural effusion and mesothelioma,” stated Jarrett Duncan, RS Oncology’s CEO. “Our novel therapeutic approach has shown pre-clinical efficacy and safety in nearly a dozen cancer types. We eagerly await the clinical data validating RSO-021 as a safe and effective treatment option for patients with cancer. This novel treatment is desperately needed in the clinical community as patients lack effective second line treatment options,” added COO and Head of Business Development, George Naumov.
About MITOPE clinical trial
The MITOPE Phase 1/2 clinical trial is a first-in-human study that will evaluate RSO-021 as a treatment for patients suffering from MPE and mesothelioma. RSO-021 is a novel irreversible inhibitor of a key mitochondrial enzyme PRX3 (upregulated in cancer cells) regulating oxidative stress pathways. Treatment with RSO-021 will be administered weekly via an intrapleural catheter after routine pleural effusion drainage. The MITOPE trial is planned to open in six UK-based clinical institutions and will be recruiting patients with the help of Meso UK. For more MITOPE information review https://www.mesothelioma.uk.com/clinical-trials/ or contact MITOPE@rsoncology.com. The study is supported by NIHR.
About RS Oncology
RSO is a clinical stage biotechnology company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts with a mission to eradicate mesothelioma worldwide through new science and an innovative business model. The lead program RSO-021 is currently focused on development of novel therapies that modulate mitochondrial pathways that drive diseases of oxidative stress for treatment of malignant pleural effusion and malignant mesothelioma.
About NIHR
The National Institute for Health Research is UK’s largest funder of health and care research. The NIHR: funds, supports and delivers high quality research that benefits the UK National Health System, public health and social care; engages and involves patients, caregivers and the public in order to improve the reach, quality and impact of research; attracts, trains and supports the best researchers to tackle the complex health and care challenges of the future; invests in world-class infrastructure and a skilled delivery workforce to translate discoveries into improved treatments and services; partners with other public funders, charities and industry to maximize the value of research to patients and the economy.
For Corporate Inquiries: Jarrett Duncan, CEO, RS Oncology j.duncan@rsoncology.com
For Media Inquiries: Nichole Pfeiffer Hicks, Patient Advocacy, RS Oncology: n.hicks@rsoncology.com