Immunomedics reported the development of a novel protein complex, designated as E1-L-thP1, for targeted delivery of small interfering ribonucleic acids (siRNAs) to diverse solid cancers
WASHINGTON, DC, USA | April 19, 2010 | Immunomedics, Inc. (Nasdaq:IMMU – News), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing monoclonal antibodies to treat cancer and other serious diseases, today reported the development of a novel protein complex, designated as E1-L-thP1, for targeted delivery of small interfering ribonucleic acids (siRNAs) to diverse solid cancers.
RNA interference (RNAi) is a natural process in cells in which short RNA molecules control which genes are active. In preclinical settings, RNAi has been shown to shut down the production of a number of cancer-related proteins. Despite the potential of RNAi to silence specific genes, the full therapeutic potential of RNAi remains to be realized due to a lack of effective delivery system to target cells in vivo.
To address this critical need, the Company created E1-L-thP1 using its patented Dock-and-Lock protein engineering platform technology. E1-L-thP1 is made up of hRS7, the Company’s proprietary humanized anti-TROP-2 antibody, linked with 4 copies of human protamine. Protamines are small proteins that bind to nucleic acids and, as such, are good candidates for delivering siRNAs to target cells.
E1-L-thP1 was found to internalize in cells that express the TROP-2 antigen, suggesting the binding ability of hRS7 remains intact in the fusion protein. More importantly, it effectively delivered siRNAs into TROP-2-expressing cancer cells, causing cell death. Further evaluation of the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of E1-L-thP1 for delivery of CD74- and CEACAM6-specific siRNAs to treat TROP-2-expressing pancreatic cancer is ongoing.
"RNAi is an important new field of cancer research and we are pleased to be making advances here," commented Cynthia L. Sullivan, President and CEO. "Given that TROP-2 is expressed in the vast majority of human cancers that include breast, colon, stomach, lung, prostate, ovary, endometrium, uterine, cervix and pancreas, E1-L-thP1 represents a potential novel tool in the arsenal of an oncologist to fight cancer if its efficacy can be confirmed in a clinical setting."
About Immunomedics
Immunomedics is a New Jersey-based biopharmaceutical company primarily focused on the development of monoclonal, antibody-based products for the targeted treatment of cancer, autoimmune and other serious diseases. We have developed a number of advanced proprietary technologies that allow us to create humanized antibodies that can be used either alone in unlabeled or "naked" form, or conjugated with radioactive isotopes, chemotherapeutics or toxins, in each case to create highly targeted agents. Using these technologies, we have built a pipeline of therapeutic product candidates that utilize several different mechanisms of action. We also have a majority ownership in IBC Pharmaceuticals, Inc., which is developing a novel Dock-and-Lock (DNL) methodology with us for making fusion proteins and multifunctional antibodies, and a new method of delivering imaging and therapeutic agents selectively to disease, especially different solid cancers (colorectal, lung, pancreas, etc.), by proprietary, antibody-based, pretargeting methods. We believe that our portfolio of intellectual property, which includes approximately 148 patents issued in the United States and more than 300 other patents issued worldwide, protects our product candidates and technologies. For additional information on us, please visit our website at www.immunomedics.com. The information on our website does not, however, form a part of this press release.
SOURCE: Immunomedics, Inc.
Post Views: 60
Immunomedics reported the development of a novel protein complex, designated as E1-L-thP1, for targeted delivery of small interfering ribonucleic acids (siRNAs) to diverse solid cancers
WASHINGTON, DC, USA | April 19, 2010 | Immunomedics, Inc. (Nasdaq:IMMU – News), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing monoclonal antibodies to treat cancer and other serious diseases, today reported the development of a novel protein complex, designated as E1-L-thP1, for targeted delivery of small interfering ribonucleic acids (siRNAs) to diverse solid cancers.
RNA interference (RNAi) is a natural process in cells in which short RNA molecules control which genes are active. In preclinical settings, RNAi has been shown to shut down the production of a number of cancer-related proteins. Despite the potential of RNAi to silence specific genes, the full therapeutic potential of RNAi remains to be realized due to a lack of effective delivery system to target cells in vivo.
To address this critical need, the Company created E1-L-thP1 using its patented Dock-and-Lock protein engineering platform technology. E1-L-thP1 is made up of hRS7, the Company’s proprietary humanized anti-TROP-2 antibody, linked with 4 copies of human protamine. Protamines are small proteins that bind to nucleic acids and, as such, are good candidates for delivering siRNAs to target cells.
E1-L-thP1 was found to internalize in cells that express the TROP-2 antigen, suggesting the binding ability of hRS7 remains intact in the fusion protein. More importantly, it effectively delivered siRNAs into TROP-2-expressing cancer cells, causing cell death. Further evaluation of the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of E1-L-thP1 for delivery of CD74- and CEACAM6-specific siRNAs to treat TROP-2-expressing pancreatic cancer is ongoing.
"RNAi is an important new field of cancer research and we are pleased to be making advances here," commented Cynthia L. Sullivan, President and CEO. "Given that TROP-2 is expressed in the vast majority of human cancers that include breast, colon, stomach, lung, prostate, ovary, endometrium, uterine, cervix and pancreas, E1-L-thP1 represents a potential novel tool in the arsenal of an oncologist to fight cancer if its efficacy can be confirmed in a clinical setting."
About Immunomedics
Immunomedics is a New Jersey-based biopharmaceutical company primarily focused on the development of monoclonal, antibody-based products for the targeted treatment of cancer, autoimmune and other serious diseases. We have developed a number of advanced proprietary technologies that allow us to create humanized antibodies that can be used either alone in unlabeled or "naked" form, or conjugated with radioactive isotopes, chemotherapeutics or toxins, in each case to create highly targeted agents. Using these technologies, we have built a pipeline of therapeutic product candidates that utilize several different mechanisms of action. We also have a majority ownership in IBC Pharmaceuticals, Inc., which is developing a novel Dock-and-Lock (DNL) methodology with us for making fusion proteins and multifunctional antibodies, and a new method of delivering imaging and therapeutic agents selectively to disease, especially different solid cancers (colorectal, lung, pancreas, etc.), by proprietary, antibody-based, pretargeting methods. We believe that our portfolio of intellectual property, which includes approximately 148 patents issued in the United States and more than 300 other patents issued worldwide, protects our product candidates and technologies. For additional information on us, please visit our website at www.immunomedics.com. The information on our website does not, however, form a part of this press release.
SOURCE: Immunomedics, Inc.
Post Views: 60
