Regen BioPharma, Inc. (OTCBB: RGBP) and (PINK: RGBP) announced today development of a novel means of delivering its patented (US Patent 8,263,571) gene silencing nucleic acid, RGBP-248, to liver tumors utilizing a clinically approved formulation as delivery system. The product in development overcomes previous hurdles with gene silencing therapeutics in which the gene silencing drug had to be delivered throughout the whole body. By utilizing a local delivery system, potential toxicities are reduced and a higher concentration of the therapeutic product reaches the tumor.
"Historically our approach at Regen BioPharma has always been to aim for as little systemic delivery as possible. In our dCellVax product (FDA IND # 16200) the gene silencing is performed on immune cells before administration to the body. In our current product, the gene silencing agent is administered using a "depot" formulation that conventionally is utilized for local delivery of chemotherapy as a palliative approach to unresectable liver cancer patients," said Thomas Ichim, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer of Regen BioPharma. "In contrast to chemotherapy, which does not target cancer stem cells, there is evidence suggesting that gene silencing of BORIS does kill cancer stem cells. By killing cancer stem cells we believe that our new approach in development will lead to improved efficacy of the clinically used Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization procedure."
Liver cancer is the 6th most common cancer world-wide, with 786,000 new cases every year. Risk factors for liver cancer include hepatitis infection, as well as excessive alcohol use.
"The company continues to develop intellectual property, with the filing of patent application number 62211605 to cover this novel combination procedure," said David Koos, PhD, Chairman and CEO of Regen BioPharma. "We are now in the process of seeking clinical collaborators with the hope of filing an Investigational New Drug (IND) Application with the FDA on this technology next year."
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