Telomir Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: TELO) reported the peer-reviewed publication of preclinical data demonstrating that its lead candidate, Telomir-Zn, suppresses tumor growth in prostate and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) models through selective modulation of intracellular iron and copper. The findings, published in the Journal of Oncology Research and Therapy, support the advancement of Telomir-Zn toward a planned Phase 1/2 clinical trial in TNBC under the company's active Investigational New Drug (IND) application.
The study revealed that Telomir-Zn inhibits histone demethylases by depleting intracellular iron, selectively killing iron-dependent TNBC cells while sparing normal cells at concentrations more than 50-fold higher. Additionally, the compound reactivated tumor-suppressor genes in a prostate cancer model, indicating a potential epigenetic mechanism of action.
In TNBC xenograft models, Telomir-Zn reduced primary tumor size across several cell lines and significantly reduced metastatic dissemination in HCC1806 xenografts. Notably, in BT-549 xenografts, combining Telomir-Zn with paclitaxel produced significantly greater tumor reduction than either treatment alone, suggesting potential for combination therapy. However, MDA-MB-231 xenografts did not respond, indicating tumor-specific differences in sensitivity that will be important for patient selection in clinical trials.
These results provide the scientific foundation for advancing Telomir-Zn into the clinic. The company has received IND clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for a Phase 1/2 trial in patients with advanced or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. The peer-reviewed publication adds credibility to the preclinical evidence and may support further development and potential partnership opportunities.
Telomir Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing small-molecule therapeutics targeting epigenetic and metabolic pathways implicated in cancer. Its lead program, Telomir-Zn, is designed to modulate intracellular metal homeostasis and epigenetic regulation. The company's newsroom provides updates on its progress at https://ibn.fm/TELO.
The full press release is available at https://ibn.fm/mv3hn.
