Matrix Biomed, Inc. has FDA approval and is conducting phase II clinical trials administering MBM-02 for the treatment of prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men, except for skin cancer. This year, an estimated 174,650 men in the United States will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. Around 60% of cases are diagnosed in men over 65. The average age of diagnosis is 66 years. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men in the United States. It is estimated that 31,620 deaths from this disease will occur this year. There are almost 3 million survivors of prostate cancer in the United States today.
Solid tumors contain hypoxic regions (low oxygen) due to their high rates of cell proliferation and formation of aberrant blood vessels. Intratumoral hypoxia is associated with increased risk of invasion, metastasis, and patient mortality. Cancer cells respond to hypoxia by stabilizing hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) and hypoxia inducible factor 2 (HIF-2). HIF-1 and HIF-2 activate a transcription of genes encoding proteins that mediate major adaptive responses to hypoxia that are critical for cancer cell survival. Without activation of HIF-1 and HIF-2, cancer cells would not survive.
MBM-02 has been shown to inhibit the genes responsible for prostate carcinogenesis, HIF-1 and HIF-2.
In a proof of concept clinical study, NCT04337099, MBM-02, administered daily has shown favorable results with respect to modulation of serum PSA, along with parallel, exploratory findings demonstrating minimal impact on hormone synthesis and NO toxicity reported. The patient’s PSA is 1/3rd the value of when the patient began MBM-02 treatment. Furthermore, the patient’s scans show a stable tumor with diminished vascularity compared to baseline.
