MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Minneapolis-based Humanetics Corporation (Humanetics) has been awarded a grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to evaluate their proprietary radioprotectant compound, BIO 300, as a potential treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED) following prostate cancer radiotherapy. Research will be conducted in collaboration with Dr. Zeljko Vujaskovic, Director of the Division of Translational Radiation Sciences at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer affecting men in the U.S. According to NCI, nearly 235,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in the U.S. in 2014. While survival rates are high, radiation-induced ED is a common—and lingering—effect of treatment.
"Radiation-induced ED remains an unmet medical need with significant implications for the psychological, emotional, and social wellbeing of cancer survivors," said Dr. Vujaskovic. "The threat of post-treatment ED dictates treatment-related decisions for many prostate cancer patients."
BIO 300 has already shown promise in preclinical models as a medical radiation countermeasure to make cancer treatments more effective while protecting healthy tissues from the harmful effects of radiation. The compound's substantial radioprotective effects stem from its strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as its effects on cell division. "A strong scientific rationale suggests that inflammation and oxidative stress, key targets for BIO 300, are implicated in the development of radiotherapy-induced ED," said Ronald J. Zenk, CEO of Humanetics Corporation. "We look forward to working with Dr. Vujaskovic to explore BIO 300's potential as an effective therapy to address this adverse effect of prostate cancer radiotherapy."
The new grant has two objectives:
- To determine the therapeutic efficacy of BIO 300 in a model of radiotherapy-induced ED; and
- To ensure that BIO 300 does not negatively interfere with radiotherapy directed at tumors.
The grant is for $224,891 for the period of July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015.
About Humanetics Corporation
Humanetics Corporation is a clinical-stage specialty pharmaceutical company engaged in the accelerated discovery, development, and commercialization of proprietary drugs, medical foods, and consumer products in markets with urgent and unmet needs with a focus on radiation modulators and CNS diseases. For more information, visit www.humaneticscorp.com.
About the University of Maryland School of Medicine
Established in 1807, the University of Maryland School of Medicine was the first public medical school in the United States, and the first to institute a residency-training program. The School of Medicine was the founding school of the University of Maryland and today is an integral part of the 11-campus University System of Maryland. On the University of Maryland's Baltimore campus, the School of Medicine serves as the anchor for a large academic health center which aims to provide the best medical education, conduct the most innovative biomedical research and provide the best patient care and community service to Maryland and beyond. www.medschool.umaryland.edu.