Biothera receives SBIR award to evaluate therapeutic potential of Imprime PGG drug in pancreatic cancer

Sep 24 2010

Biothera has received a National Cancer Institute SBIR award to evaluate the therapeutic potential of its drug candidate Imprime PGG^® in pancreatic cancer, the company announced today.

“Clinical trial data with Imprime PGG demonstrates that this platform technology has therapeutic potential in multiple cancer indications, including major indications with significant unmet needs”

Biothera will conduct preclinical studies in pancreatic cancer xenograft models with Imprime PGG and marketed anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies. More than 90% of all pancreatic cancers express EGFR (Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor), but also express KRAS gene mutations that are known to make the cancer cells resistant to anti-EGFR treatment alone. The goal of this research is to build upon the proof of concept Biothera has established using Imprime PGG in combination with anti-EGFR antibody in clinical trials with KRAS mutant metastatic colorectal cancer.

Imprime PGG is a novel immune modulator with a highly specific mechanism of action that enables the body's own immune cells to kill cancer. This drug is currently in multiple Phase II clinical trials for metastatic colorectal cancer, KRAS mutated colorectal cancer and non-small cell lung cancer.

"Clinical trial data with Imprime PGG demonstrates that this platform technology has therapeutic potential in multiple cancer indications, including major indications with significant unmet needs," said Dan Conners, president of Biothera's Pharmaceutical Group.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal of all solid malignancies with a death rate estimated by the National Cancer Institute to be approximately 96%. In the U.S., pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in men and women.