VQD-001 clinical trial

VQD-001 is a clinical stage drug with a novel anti-tumor action that has potential as a treatment for cancer. VQD-001 has been safely used for more than 50 years as a treatment for leishmaniasis, a protozoan infection usually found in tropic and sub-tropic developing countries. It has been shown to be effective in breast, prostate, multiple myeloma, malignant melanoma, bladder, and colon cancer cell lines. Investigators at the Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Center found that VQD-001 inhibits specific protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPases) that are overexpressed in certain cancers. This overexpression plays an integral role in tumor growth in certain cancers. A Phase I/II study in patients with refractory cancers is underway at Taussig Cancer Center.