CQDM, the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation and Theratechnologies
today announced close to CAN $2 million of funding for a
collaborative research project that aims to demonstrate the
efficacy and safety of a potential innovative treatment for
patients affected by metastatic cancer. This public-private
partnership is made possible through a grant of $824,130 from the
Ministère de l’Économie et de l’Innovation (MEI) via CQDM, a
donation of $186,600 from the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation and a
contribution of $21,000 from Mitacs. It also includes a
contribution of $796,610 from Theratechnologies, as part of the
company’s annual multi-million-dollar investment in the development
of its oncology therapeutic platform using TH1902.
The project will be led by Professor Borhane
Annabi at the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) and builds
directly on the success of a previous CQDM-funded study also
involving Professor Annabi’s and Theratechnologies’ teams. This
earlier work led to the development of TH1902, a new therapeutic
approach against cancer that is still in development. TH1902
enables the delivery of the chemotherapeutic agent directly into
cancer cells through the recognition and internalizing function of
a protein called sortilin, which is overexpressed on the surface of
the cells. These major scientific advances have driven the launch
of clinical studies in patients suffering from hard-to-treat solid
tumors, such as patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).
In order to capitalize on the results obtained to date and as
sortilin is also overexpressed on the surface of metastatic cells,
the new project will evaluate the therapeutic potential of the
compound in several metastatic cancer models. If the hypothesis of
the teams is confirmed, the project will increase the spectrum of
cancer patients who could benefit from this new therapy.
Today’s announcement will allow
Theratechnologies, a Montreal-based company focused on the
development and commercialization of innovative therapies, to
further cultivate the potential of TH1902 – its main peptide-drug
conjugate. As a result of the combined academic and industry
expertise, this initiative ultimately could strengthen the
therapeutic arsenal available to patients affected by various types
of cancers at different stages that too often remain incurable, as
is the case in triple-negative breast cancer.
"This research project has the potential to
improve the quality of life of many people with cancer and that is
no small feat! Much work remains to be done, and we will continue
to support the companies and organizations that are working
tirelessly to develop new therapeutic avenues to improve the
quality of life of Quebecers," said Pierre Fitzgibbon, Minister of
the Economy and Innovation and Minister responsible for Regional
Economic Development.
“CQDM is very pleased to contribute to the
achievement of this new project led by exceptional research teams
that have already demonstrated their ability to accomplish and
surpass the targeted objectives. We are fully confident that this
renewed collaboration will lead to crucial advances in the fight
against metastatic cancer, a major step in improving the prognosis
of patients with advanced and difficult-to-treat cancers,” said
Diane Gosselin, President and CEO of CQDM.
“A diagnosis of triple-negative breast cancer
can be devastating and comes with many fears and uncertainties
about the future – both for the woman diagnosed and for her family
and friends – and unfortunately, there have been few treatments
available,” said Karine Iseult Ippersiel, President and CEO of the
Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation. “We are thrilled that this new
potential treatment option brings a sense of hope for the future
and the prospect of a better quality of life for women living with
this disease.”
“We are delighted to be part of this innovative
partnership with key players in the Quebec life sciences community.
Our oncology platform originates from local research and leverages
a unique and very promising new receptor called sortilin. The
enormous potential of TH1902 to treat several types of cancer
motivates us to accelerate its development in metastatic and
hard-to-treat cancers. This collaboration will allow us to increase
its potential to change the lives of those touched by such a
devastating disease,” said Paul Lévesque, President and Chief
Executive Officer of Theratechnologies.
“It is with great humility and optimism that our
team of oncology researchers is committed to meeting this new
challenge. A better understanding of the molecular mechanism of
action of TH1902 will indeed allow us to evaluate its ability to
bypass treatment-resistant properties and eventually contribute to
minimizing recurrence in patients,” said Borhane Annabi, Professor
at UQAM and holder of the Chair in Cancer Prevention and
Treatment.
About CQDM
CQDM is a biopharmaceutical research consortium
whose mission is to fund the development of innovative technologies
and tools to accelerate the discovery and development of safer and
more effective drugs. It provides a hub where major global
pharmaceutical companies, several Canadian biotechnology companies,
the best researchers from the public and private sectors, as well
as the governments of Quebec and Canada converge. CQDM’s
collaborative approach allows it to meet the needs for innovation
funding in the academic and private sectors, particularly in the
early stages of research. Information – Website:
cqdm.org, LinkedIn and
Twitter.
About the Quebec Breast Cancer
Foundation
The Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation (QBCF) is
the only philanthropic organization that ensures that the benefits
of its research investments in the fight against breast cancer are
invested here in Quebec. For more than 28 years, it has raised more
than $60 million, which has been distributed here for the benefit
of cutting-edge research and to defend the interests of people with
breast cancer and their families. Through research and innovation,
support, and awareness, it places people with breast cancer and
their families at the heart of its mission. Researchers,
volunteers, employees, donors and families, all bound by the same
hope: A future without breast cancer.
Follow our news on social networks
Facebook, LinkedIn,
Twitter and Instagram. For more
information on the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation:
https://rubanrose.org/en/
About Theratechnologies
Theratechnologies (TSX: TH) (NASDAQ: THTX) is a
biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and
commercialization of innovative therapies addressing unmet medical
needs. Further information about Theratechnologies is available on
the Company’s website at www.theratech.com; on
SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at
www.sec.gov Twitter -
LinkedIn
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking
statements and forward-looking information (collectively,
“forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable
securities laws. Forward-looking statements in this press release
include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the
development of TH1902 and a treatment for patients with
sortilin-expressing tumors. Although the forward-looking statements
in this press release are based on assumptions that the Company
believes are reasonable based on the data currently available to
it, any investor should not place undue reliance on these
statements. The assumptions underlying the forward-looking
statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many
of which are beyond Theratechnologies’ control, that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those that are disclosed
in, expressed or implied, by the forward-looking statements
contained in this communication. Current and potential investors
are invited to refer to the “Risk Factors” section of
Theratechnologies’ Annual Information Form dated February 23, 2022
available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov as
an exhibit to its report on Form 40-F dated February 24, 2022 under
Theratechnologies’ filings for additional risks regarding the
business.
TH1902 is an investigational peptide conjugate
that has not received any regulatory approval for
commercialization, including from Health Canada.
About UQAM
The Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) is a
French-language university. UQAM is a dynamic, open, creative
university with an international outreach. It is recognized for the
originality and quality of its programs, its cutting-edge research,
solidly grounded in social concerns, and its innovation in the
arts. The University’s researchers, working in more than a hundred
research and creative units, are awarded numerous prizes and
distinctions each year.
For more information
CQDMDiane Gosselin, PhD, MBA,
President and CEO dgosselin@cqdm.org
Quebec Breast Cancer
FoundationMartine CôtéAdvisor, Communications and Media
Relations mcote@rubanrose.org
TheratechnologiesJulie
SchneidermanSenior Director of Communications and Corporate
Affairscommunications@theratech.com
Elif McDonaldSenior Director, Investor Relations
ir@theratech.com
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