Major Milestone Achieved in Development of Promising Anti-LPA Antibody for Treatment of Cancer, Various Eye Disorders, and Other Diseases
SAN DIEGO, CA, USA | January 28, 2008 | Lpath, Inc. (OTCBB: LPTN), the category leader in therapeutic agents against bioactive lipids, has successfully humanized its Lpathomab(TM) monoclonal antibody against lysophospholipid acid (LPA). As a promoter of tumorigenesis and metastasis, LPA is an important bioactive lipid and a well-validated cancer drug target. LPA is also a well-known contributor to neuropathic pain.
The humanization of Lpathomab was a collaborative effort with DaTaMabs LLP, an antibody engineering consultancy that provides an antibody humanization design service using well-established CDR-grafting methodology (www.DaTaMabs.com). Humanization is a critical step for most antibody programs, as the "original" research antibody is typically generated in mice. If the humanization step is not performed, the antibody is likely to cause an immune response in humans, rendering it less safe and/or less efficacious.
"Given that we have spent the last two decades demonstrating how important LPA is in many cancer lineages, this is a tremendous opportunity to assess a novel therapeutic approach," said Gordon B. Mills, M.D., Ph.D., one of the world’s foremost ovarian cancer specialists and chair of Lpath’s scientific advisory board. "We look forward to performing the ‘first-in-man’ studies, which this important achievement makes possible." Dr. Mills also serves as chairman of the Department of Molecular Oncology and professor at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, which recently ranked as the #1 hospital in the nation for cancer care.
Scott Pancoast, Lpath’s president and chief executive officer, added, "Creating humanized versions of our anti-LPA antibody is a major achievement and a critical milestone in our product development plan. We can now advance this novel therapeutic towards clinical trials."
The original murine (mouse-based) form of Lpathomab is the second antibody created using Lpath’s proprietary ImmuneY2(TM) technology. This proprietary drug-discovery technology provides Lpath a platform from which to generate antibodies against important bioactive lipids. Lpath has identified three additional bioactive-lipid targets and is in the process of generating antibodies against these targets. About 1,000 members of the lipidome are believed to exist.
Dr. Genevieve Hansen, Lpath’s vice president of research, stated, "Our success with LPA demonstrates the unique ability of our ImmuneY2 technology platform to develop a pipeline of therapeutic antibodies that inhibit these important and novel targets."
About Lpath:
Lpath, Inc., headquartered in San Diego, California, is the category leader in lipidomics-based therapeutics, an emerging field of medical science whereby bioactive signaling lipids are targeted for treating important human diseases. ASONEP(TM) (the systemic formulation of sonepcizumab) is an antibody against LPA that holds promise for the treatment of cancer and other diseases. A second product candidate, iSONEP(TM) (the ocular formulation of sonepcizumab), has demonstrated superior results in various preclinical AMD and retinopathy models. Lpath’s third product candidate, Lpathomab(TM), is an antibody against LPA, a key bioactive lipid that has been long recognized as a valid disease target. The company’s unique ability to generate novel antibodies against bioactive lipids is based on its ImmuneY2(TM) drug-discovery engine, which the company is using to add to its pipeline. For more information, visit www.Lpath.com.
About Forward-Looking Statements:
Except for statements of historical fact, the matters discussed in this press release are forward looking and reflect numerous assumptions and involve a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control and may cause actual results to differ materially from stated expectations. For example, there can be no assurance that results will be timely, necessary regulatory approvals will be obtained, the proposed treatments will prove to be safe or effective, or required clinical trials will be ultimately successful. Actual results may also differ substantially from those described in or contemplated by this press release due to risks and uncertainties that exist in our operations and business environment, including, without limitation, our limited experience in the development of therapeutic drugs, our dependence upon proprietary technology, our history of operating losses and accumulated deficits, our reliance on research grants, current and future competition, and other risks described from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to release publicly the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date hereof.
SOURCE: Lpath, Inc.
Post Views: 178
Major Milestone Achieved in Development of Promising Anti-LPA Antibody for Treatment of Cancer, Various Eye Disorders, and Other Diseases
SAN DIEGO, CA, USA | January 28, 2008 | Lpath, Inc. (OTCBB: LPTN), the category leader in therapeutic agents against bioactive lipids, has successfully humanized its Lpathomab(TM) monoclonal antibody against lysophospholipid acid (LPA). As a promoter of tumorigenesis and metastasis, LPA is an important bioactive lipid and a well-validated cancer drug target. LPA is also a well-known contributor to neuropathic pain.
The humanization of Lpathomab was a collaborative effort with DaTaMabs LLP, an antibody engineering consultancy that provides an antibody humanization design service using well-established CDR-grafting methodology (www.DaTaMabs.com). Humanization is a critical step for most antibody programs, as the "original" research antibody is typically generated in mice. If the humanization step is not performed, the antibody is likely to cause an immune response in humans, rendering it less safe and/or less efficacious.
"Given that we have spent the last two decades demonstrating how important LPA is in many cancer lineages, this is a tremendous opportunity to assess a novel therapeutic approach," said Gordon B. Mills, M.D., Ph.D., one of the world’s foremost ovarian cancer specialists and chair of Lpath’s scientific advisory board. "We look forward to performing the ‘first-in-man’ studies, which this important achievement makes possible." Dr. Mills also serves as chairman of the Department of Molecular Oncology and professor at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, which recently ranked as the #1 hospital in the nation for cancer care.
Scott Pancoast, Lpath’s president and chief executive officer, added, "Creating humanized versions of our anti-LPA antibody is a major achievement and a critical milestone in our product development plan. We can now advance this novel therapeutic towards clinical trials."
The original murine (mouse-based) form of Lpathomab is the second antibody created using Lpath’s proprietary ImmuneY2(TM) technology. This proprietary drug-discovery technology provides Lpath a platform from which to generate antibodies against important bioactive lipids. Lpath has identified three additional bioactive-lipid targets and is in the process of generating antibodies against these targets. About 1,000 members of the lipidome are believed to exist.
Dr. Genevieve Hansen, Lpath’s vice president of research, stated, "Our success with LPA demonstrates the unique ability of our ImmuneY2 technology platform to develop a pipeline of therapeutic antibodies that inhibit these important and novel targets."
About Lpath:
Lpath, Inc., headquartered in San Diego, California, is the category leader in lipidomics-based therapeutics, an emerging field of medical science whereby bioactive signaling lipids are targeted for treating important human diseases. ASONEP(TM) (the systemic formulation of sonepcizumab) is an antibody against LPA that holds promise for the treatment of cancer and other diseases. A second product candidate, iSONEP(TM) (the ocular formulation of sonepcizumab), has demonstrated superior results in various preclinical AMD and retinopathy models. Lpath’s third product candidate, Lpathomab(TM), is an antibody against LPA, a key bioactive lipid that has been long recognized as a valid disease target. The company’s unique ability to generate novel antibodies against bioactive lipids is based on its ImmuneY2(TM) drug-discovery engine, which the company is using to add to its pipeline. For more information, visit www.Lpath.com.
About Forward-Looking Statements:
Except for statements of historical fact, the matters discussed in this press release are forward looking and reflect numerous assumptions and involve a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control and may cause actual results to differ materially from stated expectations. For example, there can be no assurance that results will be timely, necessary regulatory approvals will be obtained, the proposed treatments will prove to be safe or effective, or required clinical trials will be ultimately successful. Actual results may also differ substantially from those described in or contemplated by this press release due to risks and uncertainties that exist in our operations and business environment, including, without limitation, our limited experience in the development of therapeutic drugs, our dependence upon proprietary technology, our history of operating losses and accumulated deficits, our reliance on research grants, current and future competition, and other risks described from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to release publicly the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date hereof.
SOURCE: Lpath, Inc.
Post Views: 178
