Kyto Biopharma signs licensing agreement with RFSUNY, gains patent rights to Transcobalamin Receptor

Mar 5 2010

Kyto Biopharma Inc. (“Kyto”), (OTCBB: KBPH), is pleased to announce that it has signed a licensing agreement with the Research Foundation of the State University of New York, (“RFSUNY”). The licensing agreement grants Kyto patent rights to the Transcobalamin (Vitamin B₁₂) Receptor and to an additional broad group of other patents which are critical to Kyto’s research and development strategy for the treatment of cancer.

“Kyto is currently developing a humanized version of the mAbTCR23 antibody as it advances its candidate product towards the clinic”

Kyto Scientists have isolated and cloned the Transcobalamin Receptor which has been shown to be over expressed in various forms of cancer. The primary therapeutic approach developed by Kyto is directed at the selective targeting of the Transcobalamin Receptor in cancer cells by monoclonal antibodies. This approach intends to minimize many of the potential complications arising from current chemotherapy treatments such as acute systemic toxicity.

To date Kyto has been successful in developing specific murine monoclonal antibodies to the Transcobalamin Receptor. A candidate antibody identified as mAbTCR23, has been demonstrated to be effective in targeting cancer cells and in inhibiting cell proliferation in a number of cell lines including solid tumors and lymphoid malignancies. The conjugation of the mAbTCR23 antibody to saporin, a highly effective intracellular cytotoxic agent, did not affect the biological activity of the antibody. The mAbTCR23 – Saporin conjugate demonstrated enhanced cytotoxicity in a spectrum of cancer cell lines.

The Licensing Agreement is a critical milestone for Kyto and is the culmination of over 10 years of research and development funding provided by Kyto to the State University of New York (SUNY). The SUNY group based in Brooklyn and headed by Dr. Edward Quadros and Dr. Jeffrey Sequeira has been focused on targeting the Vitamin B₁₂ pathway for the treatment of cancer. Georges Benarroch, President and CEO of Kyto, complemented the SUNY scientists and RFSUNY for their invaluable contributions to and support of Kyto for over a decade. “Kyto is currently developing a humanized version of the mAbTCR23 antibody as it advances its candidate product towards the clinic”, stated Dr. Uri Sagman co-founder and COO of Kyto. “Efforts are also ongoing in engaging an industry partner to assist Kyto in developing our technology and in improving shareholder value”, added Dr. Sagman.