Race Oncology Discovers Novel Bisantrene Photoisomers, Files Patent Applications for 20-Year Protection
核心洞察
Race Oncology discovered that bisantrene consists of three photoisomers with different biological and anticancer activities that rapidly interconvert upon exposure to visible light.
The company filed three patent applications covering the composition, manufacture, formulation and use of the active (E,E)-bisantrene isomer, potentially providing 20 years of patent protection.
Two patients were safely treated in the Phase 1 RC220 trial as single agent and in combination with doxorubicin, with recruitment expanding to Hong Kong and South Korea sites.
Race Oncology Ltd has made a significant breakthrough discovery involving the composition of bisantrene, finding that the nearly 50-year-old anticancer drug consists of three photoisomers with distinct biological and anticancer activities. The Australian biopharmaceutical company's shares jumped as much as 27.8% to A$2.30, reaching their highest level since March 2023, following the announcement of this discovery and subsequent patent applications.
Breakthrough Discovery Reveals Complex Drug Structure
The company's preclinical team discovered that bisantrene rapidly photo-isomerizes upon exposure to visible light, with the three photoisomers rapidly interconverting under these conditions. This finding emerged from the skillful follow-up of minor data anomalies by Race's scientific team, leading to a fundamental understanding of the drug's composition.
"Being able to reset the patent clock on a nearly 50-year-old drug that is at Phase 3 readiness is remarkable and a testament to the quality of scientists working at Race," said CEO Dr Daniel Tillett. The discovery has enabled Race to file three patent applications covering the active (E,E)-bisantrene isomer, which if granted, will provide the company with 20 years of composition of matter protection.
Patent Applications Filed for Commercial Protection
Based on the discovery, Race filed three patent applications to protect the composition of matter, manufacturing, formulation, and uses of (E,E)-bisantrene. According to CEO Daniel Tillett, this intellectual property generation "fundamentally changes the commercial prospects of the company." The patents potentially reset the patent life with up to 20 years of protection over the active pharmaceutical ingredient in RC220 and open a pathway for RC110 (搜索) to move toward a pivotal AML (搜索) Phase 3 trial, pending partnership arrangements.
Phase 1 Trial Progress and International Expansion
The Phase 1 cardio-protection/anticancer study of RC220 (RAC-010 (搜索)) has advanced with two patients safely treated at Southside Cancer (搜索) Care Centre in New South Wales. The patients received treatment first as single-agent RC220 and then in combination with doxorubicin. The company has materially broadened its recruitment infrastructure, with Queen Mary Hospital in Hong Kong activated following local approvals, and additional sites in Hong Kong and South Korea receiving ethics and regulatory clearances.
Race expects increased recruitment in the second quarter of FY26 as up to five more sites come online across Hong Kong and South Korea, supported by MFDS IND approval in Korea received late in the quarter.
Mechanistic Insights and Scientific Validation
Post-quarter, the company disclosed mechanistic data showing that (E,E)-bisantrene acts via RNA/DNA G-quadruplex binding, down-regulating oncogenic programs including MYC (搜索) and telomerase (搜索), indirectly inhibiting topoisomerase II (搜索), and increasing m6A in RNA. These findings were presented at ESMO 2025, providing scientific validation for the drug's mechanism of action.
Strong Financial Position Supports Development
Race Oncology ended the September quarter with $11.27 million in cash and equivalents, emphasizing disciplined spending with more than 78% of outlays (~$2.3 million) directed to R&D and drug manufacturing. Early option conversions contributed $0.6 million during the quarter, with a further $3.6 million received by October 24, leaving the company well-capitalized to fund announced programs through calendar year 2026.
The stock performance reflects investor confidence in the breakthrough, with shares up 22.8% and set for their best session since February 9, 2021. Year-to-date, Race Oncology shares have gained 63.7%, including the session's gains following the patent announcement.