Canine cancer treatment finds new hope in existing drug
Summary and headline written by AI from the source article. How we work
Kyrexa, a company founded in Scotland, is advancing rimcazole as a treatment for cancer in dogs and, potentially, humans.
Early research indicated rimcazole might not work, but Kyrexa scientists discovered a key mechanism explaining its effectiveness. They found that rimcazole’s action on the dopamine transporter, previously considered a negative side effect, boosts the drug’s ability to kill cancer cells in patients, unlike what happened in lab studies.
The team reasoned that cancer cells in living patients, facing harsh conditions, rely more on a connection between the dopamine transporter and a molecule called the sigma-1 receptor to survive. By disrupting this connection, rimcazole exposes cancer cells, making them vulnerable. This approach appears particularly effective against cancer stem cells, which are difficult to eliminate with traditional treatments and can cause cancer to return.
Pilot studies in dogs with advanced cancer showed that rimcazole stabilized or reduced tumors and improved the dogs’ quality of life, with owners reporting improvements in their pets’ energy levels. Kyrexa has patented this discovery and is moving towards regulatory approval for rimcazole as a veterinary medicine, driven by a mission to provide more compassionate cancer care.
