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The study was carried out in immune-deficient mice hosting xenografts (tissue grafts) of human breast cancer, HER2+ adenocarcinoma. Treatment was delivered orally and tumor volume was measured daily.
The positive results provide support to continue the study of Zelda formulations as anti-cancer therapeutics in their own right or in combination with current chemotherapy and radiotherapy regimes. A series of follow-on studies are in progress that will include mechanism of action studies, testing other formulations of Zelda cannabinoids and also testing against other cancer cell lines including HER2+ cells resistant to HER2-targetted treatments and triple-negative breast cancer cells.
Professors Sánchez and Guzmán are acknowledged as world leaders in studying the anti-cancer effects of cannabinoids and have published pioneering papers in prestigious scientific journals detailing specific mechanisms of action of cannabinoids on certain cell pathways. Both researchers sit on the Zelda Medical Advisory Board and provide significant guidance in terms of our pre-clinical research focus.
The study forms part of a multi-year work program, funded by Zelda, at the Complutense University focused specifically on gaining a better understanding of the efficacy of certain whole-plant extracts known to have biological activity in humans through the activities of our partner Aunt Zelda’s in California.
Our focus in this research program is to generate data packs in a form typically expected by the bio- pharmaceutical industry. The ultimate aim is to license this intellectual property to a major group better resourced to progress into formal human clinical trials in the area of cancer therapy. As per the Company’s business model, Zelda will benefit through structuring deals comprised of up-front payments, milestones and royalties from these licensees.
Commenting on the study results, Professor Cristina Sánchez stated:
“These preliminary results are very exciting and strongly point in favor of using whole-plant extracts over single cannabinoid molecules. We are in the process of designing and conducting a series of follow- on experiments in coming months which will continue to add to our body of knowledge in this field.”