RS Oncology, LLC Announces Initiation of Patient Dosing in Phase 1/2 MITOPE Clinical Trial of RSO-21 for the Treatment of Patients with Solid Tumors
4 April 2022, Cambridge, MA — RS Oncology, LLC, (RSO) a biotechnical company focused on the treatment of patients with malignant pleural effusion and mesothelioma, announces the dosing of the first patient with RSO-021 as part 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 a specific mitochondrial 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 a key enzyme in the antioxidant signaling network within the mitochondria of malignant cells.
“Our team is excited to begin patient dosing with our novel metabolic therapy. This is a significant milestone in developing a treatment for people suffering from this horrible disease,” stated CEO Jarrett Duncan. “We are eager to see activity of our drug in humans following our successful pre-clinical studies in multiple indications,” added COO and Head of Business Development, George Naumov, Ph.D.
“Mesothelioma remains a lethal cancer lacking effective treatments, particularly in patients with relapsed disease. This exciting study of a first in class PRX3 inhibitor is hoped to show promising signals that could lead to development of a new approach to tackle this cancer.” said the clinical investigator from Leicester Hospital, Professor Dean Fennell, FRCP FRSB.
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 (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 in collaboration with Mesothelioma 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