Hofseth Biocare ASA announced the online publication of its abstract titled "Antiproliferative activity of marine-derived oligopeptides combined with androgen receptor inhibition in preclinical cancer models" (Journal of Clinical Oncology 41, 2023, supplement 16; abstract # e15186) ahead of the annual ASCO meeting in Chicago, June 2-5, 2023. This work by HBC represents the final phase of invitro research which has identified the lead peptide candidates, FT-002 and FT-005, for organoid and in vivo prostate cancer research in combination with standard of care therapy, planned to commence during H2 2023. Prostate cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men.

Whilst most cases do not shorten life expectancy, advanced prostate cancer remains largely incurable. Hormone therapy remains the cornerstone of treatment however eventually tumours find ways of overcoming treatment and start to grow and spread. One important route of tumour escape is via hijacking cellular iron metabolism.

In preclinical models, including those published in the ASCO abstract, FT-002 and FT-005 have shown a consistent ability to modulate iron metabolism within tumour cells to both enhance tumour cell sensitivity to standard of care hormone therapy as well as reversing resistance to standard hormone therapy.