Telomir Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: TELO) has announced the peer-reviewed publication of preclinical data showing that its lead candidate, Telomir-Zn, suppressed 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, provide a scientific foundation for the company's planned Phase 1/2 clinical trial in TNBC under its active Investigational New Drug (IND) application.
The study revealed that Telomir-Zn inhibits histone demethylases by depleting intracellular iron, thereby selectively killing iron-dependent TNBC cells while sparing normal cells at concentrations more than 50-fold higher. In prostate cancer models, the compound reactivated tumor-suppressor genes, indicating a potential epigenetic mechanism. 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, while MDA-MB-231 xenografts did not respond, highlighting tumor-specific differences in sensitivity.
These results are particularly significant given the aggressive nature of triple-negative breast cancer, which accounts for approximately 15% of all breast cancers and has limited targeted treatment options. The ability of Telomir-Zn to selectively target cancer cells while sparing normal cells, combined with its potential to enhance the efficacy of existing chemotherapies like paclitaxel, could offer a new therapeutic strategy for patients with this challenging disease.
Telomir Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing small-molecule therapeutics targeting epigenetic and metabolic pathways implicated in cancer. The company's lead program, Telomir-Zn, is designed to modulate intracellular metal homeostasis and epigenetic regulation. It has received IND clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for a Phase 1/2 clinical trial in patients with advanced or metastatic TNBC. The peer-reviewed publication of these data marks a critical step in validating the compound's mechanism of action and its potential clinical utility.
The full press release can be viewed at https://ibn.fm/mv3hn. For more information about Telomir Pharmaceuticals, visit the company's newsroom at https://ibn.fm/TELO.
