Oxis Biotech's TriKE Cancer-Fighting Technology Receives Key NIH Endorsement
LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / August 29, 2016 / Oxis Biotech Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Oxis International Inc. (OTCQB: OXIS and Euronext Paris OXI.PA), announced today that its research partners at the University of Minnesota cancer center are collaborating with the National Institutes of Health to accelerate commercialization of their promising TriKE cancer-fighting platform.
The University of Minnesota is one of 14 high-impact research institutions across the country that are now in partnership with the NIH centers for commercialization (NCAI). The university was designated an NIH Research Evaluation and Commercialization Hub (REACH), a step that could boost efforts by Oxis and the university to commercialize new cancer therapies.
The University of Minnesota and Dr. Daniel A Vallera, Professor of Radiation Oncology at the University of Minnesota, were chosen for the award based on the TriKE platform because it's an improvement over current technology and because of its prospects for success based on efficacy studies.
Applications for the REACH award were invited from the areas of therapeutics, preventatives, diagnostics, devices, and tools.
In July, Oxis announced that it had agreed to a major partnership with the University of Minnesota to develop and commercialize cancer therapies using TriKE technology developed by researchers at the university.
Anthony J. Cataldo, Chief Executive Officer of Oxis, said the NIH recognition is evidence that the company's partnership with the University of Minnesota has significant potential to lead to breakthroughs in the treatment of cancer.
"The NIH REACH award for the University of Minnesota TriKE platform technology (OXS-3550) is further indication of the value and uniqueness of the TriKE platform," Mr. Cataldo said.
"Dr. Dan Vallera and Dr. Jeff Miller have leveraged the funds provided from this award to create this new disruptive technology for off-the-shelf targeted immunotherapy. This next generation platform technology is exactly why Oxis is excited by our partnership with the University Of Minnesota."
Oxis' partnership with the university is part of a formula that has succeeded before. Mr. Cataldo used a similar research partnership to develop Lion Biotechnologies Inc. (LBIO) in 2011. That company now has a market capitalization of more than $500 million.
"When I created Lion Biotechnologies, Inc., I felt that the National Cancer Institute (NCI) cell therapy developed by Dr. Steven Rosenberg was the next wave of exciting disruptive technology, which proved to be true," Mr. Cataldo said. "It is becoming clear that off-the-shelf targeted immunotherapy developed by Drs. Vallera and Miller will represent the next wave of excitement in the biotech community."
Dr. Miller said there is tremendous potential for TriKE technology, which trains the body's immune system to kill cancer cells while leaving healthy cells alone.
"We are now working with Oxis to go forward into FDA clinical trials to demonstrate TriKE efficacy and believe it can deliver an immune expansion signal directly to the cancer cell, diminishing drug-related toxicity, one of the biggest challenges facing biotech companies that have non targeted therapies," Dr. Miller said.
The medical journal Science Translational Medicine recently highlighted TriKe research by the University of Minnesota's Vallera and Miller.
Science Translational Medicine designated the research as an "Editors' Choice," and said, "TriKEs were superior in restoring potent antigen-specific NK cell responses against AML targets and mediated robust and specific NK cell proliferation."
TriKE technology has several benefits compared to CAR-T therapy, which is very expensive and has been shown to carry significant side effects. Both Kite Pharma (Nasdaq:KITE) and Juno Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq:JUNO) have gained significant attention for their CAR-T efforts.
ABOUT OXIS INTERNATIONAL, INC. - Oxis International, Inc., through a wholly owned subsidiary, Oxis Biotech, Inc., develops innovative drugs focused on the treatment of cancer and other unmet medical needs. Oxis' lead drug candidate, OXS-1550 (DT2219ARL) is a novel bispecific scFv recombinant fusion protein-drug conjugate composed of the variable regions of the heavy and light chains of anti-CD19 and anti-CD22 antibodies and a modified form of diphtheria toxin as its cytotoxic drug payload. OXS-1550 simultaneously targets cancer cells expressing the CD19 receptor or CD22 receptor or both receptors. When OXS-1550 binds to cancer cells, the cancer cells internalize the drug and are killed due to the action of drug's cytotoxic payload. OXS-1550 has demonstrated success in early human clinical trials in patients with relapsed/refractory B-cell lymphoma or leukemia. OXS-4235 is a small molecule therapeutic candidate targeting the treatment of multiple myeloma and associated osteolytic lesions. In in vitro and in vivo models of multiple myeloma and osteoporosis, OXS-4235 demonstrated the ability to kill multiple myeloma cells, and decrease osteolytic lesions in bone. OXIS' lead drug candidate, OXS-2175, is a small molecule therapeutic candidate targeting the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). In in vitro and in vivo models of TNBC, OXS-2175 demonstrated the ability to inhibit metastasis.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS - Except for historical information contained herein, the statements in this release are forward-looking and made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are inherently unreliable and actual results may differ materially. Examples of forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding the payment of dividends, marketing and distribution plans, development activities and anticipated operating results. Factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include such factors as the Company's ability to accomplish its business initiatives, significant fluctuations in marketing expenses and ability to achieve and expand significant levels of revenues, or recognize net income, from the sale of its products and services, as well as the introduction of competing products, or management's ability to attract and maintain qualified personnel necessary for the development and commercialization of its planned products, and other information that may be detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Company website: www.oxis.com
SOURCE: Oxis International, Inc.
Released August 29, 2016