LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 13, 2017 / Oxis International Inc. (OTCQB: OXIS and Euronext Paris OXI.PA) announced today that it has entered into a co-development partnership agreement with Altor BioScience Corp. (Altor) in which the companies will collaborate exclusively in the clinical development of a novel 161533 TriKE fusion protein for cancer therapies using Oxis' trispecific killer engager (TriKE) technology.
Altor, based in Miramar, Fla., is a leading developer of novel cytokine-based immunotherapeutics for cancer and infectious diseases. Altor is run by Hing C. Wong, Ph.D., Founder and Chief Executive Officer and Chaired by Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, a noted cancer researcher who owns NantWorks, a network of healthcare companies.
The TriKE technology was developed by researchers at the University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center. As demonstrated in non-clinical models, this targeted immunotherapy directs immune cells to kill cancer cells while diminishing drug-related toxicity. Addition of Altor's IL-15 superagonist technology to the 161533 TriKE molecule would further augment its ability to stimulate immune responses.
Under the partnership, Oxis and Altor will conduct a first-in-man Phase 1 FDA human clinical trial of the 161533 TriKE for the treatment of hematologic malignancies.
Anthony J. Cataldo, Chief Executive Officer of Oxis, believes that the partnership with Altor will greatly benefit Oxis and the University of Minnesota in their efforts to leverage the TriKE technology into approved cancer therapies. The TriKE platform technology has received considerable attention, including having recently won the "REACH" award from the NIH (National Institutes of Health) for technology most likely to achieve commercial success. A research study on 161533 TriKE molecule was also selected as "Editors' Choice" by the journal Science Translational Medicine, which stated, "TriKEs were superior in restoring potent antigen-specific NK cell responses against AML targets and mediated robust and specific NK cell proliferation."
Mr. Cataldo further said, "Altor's elegant design of a mutant IL -15 can further enhance the targeting and effective killing of myeloid malignancies by the 161533 TriKE."
Hing C. Wong, Ph.D., Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Altor, said: "The 161533 TriKE is an innovative second-generation immunotherapeutic fusion protein being developed by Oxis that targets human CD16 and human CD33. We are excited to have Altor's proprietary IL-15 technology as an integral part of this molecule that is poised to rapidly enter into the clinic."
The clinical project will be managed by Jeffrey S. Miller, M.D., Deputy Director of the University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center and a member of the Oxis Scientific Advisory Board. Dr. Miller said, "The goal of a TriKE is to make NK cells antigen specific by creating an immune synapse between NK cells and tumor targets. Preclinical data suggest that use of an IL-15 linker not only boosts immune activation but it also delivers a proliferative signal to NK cells to sustain and further drive the immune response, a property that should overcome tumor induced immune suppression."
About Oxis Biotech, Inc.: Oxis Biotech is an immuno-oncology focused company developing 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 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-3550 TriKE technology was developed by researchers at the University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center. As demonstrated in non-clinical models, this targeted immunotherapy directs immune cells to kill cancer cells while diminishing drug-related toxicity. Addition of Altor's IL-15 superagonist technology to the 161533 TriKE molecule would further augment its ability to stimulate immune responses.
About Altor BioScience: Altor is a privately held, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel immunotherapeutics for the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Altor's engineered cytokine technology platforms are centered on the immunostimulatory properties of the cytokines IL-15 and IL-2. These cytokines provide essential links between the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system and induce the activation, proliferation, and persistence of NK and T cells, which are critical in the body's defense against cancer and infection.
Altor is leveraging its extensive network of research and clinical collaborations, including leading cancer institutes and universities, toward actively exploring the potential clinical utilities of product candidates ALT-803 and ALT-801 against cancer and infectious diseases. In various experimental models, ALT-803 and ALT-801 exhibit potent immunostimulatory activity when administered in combination with other types of therapeutic agents. Altor is positioning its immunotherapeutic platform to be employed as the backbone therapy in next-generation combination immunotherapy approaches. For more information, please visit www.altorbioscience.com.
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 Oxis' 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 Oxis' filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Oxis undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
SOURCE: Oxis International Inc.