WOONSOCKET, R.I., Dec. 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- MultiCell
Technologies, Inc. (OTC: MCET) has filed a U.S. patent application
covering the design and therapeutic use of novel, next-generation
antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) which provide for the simultaneous
targeted delivery of multiple drugs from a single
antibody.
Cancer therapy often results in the patient becoming very sick
due to toxicity and off-target effects of certain drugs used to
treat patients. ADCs take advantage of the target specificity
of a monoclonal antibody to deliver a potent cytotoxic compound
selectively to just the targeted tumor cells, thus improving the
drug's therapeutic safety window by decreasing the likelihood of
adverse off-target effects. As a result of decreasing
off-target effects, overall patient experience and patient outcomes
are improved.
This patent application describes compositions-of-matter, a
multivalent biodegradable linker and tether to attach drugs to the
antibody or other targeting agents, and the therapeutic use of such
drug conjugates to treat cancer and other diseases. These
unique ADCs are designed to release drugs in their native form via
biodegradation of the novel cleavable, multi-valent linker and
tether after the ADC enters the cell.
This multivalent drug delivery platform allows for the
simultaneous targeted delivery of synergistic drugs as well as
other drug-drug combinations to patients. Drugs are
considered synergistic when the action of one drug enhances the
effectiveness of the other drug. Such a unique targeted
co-delivery capability enables the simultaneous localization of
both drugs within the target cell where they exert their biological
effect and helps to minimize adverse off-target effects.
This novel co-delivery capability also allows drug developers to
make ADCs using a broader range of therapeutic agents such as RNA,
DNA, chemotherapeutic agents, small molecule therapeutics, and
biomolecules. This method of drug delivery could also
eliminate the need to infuse patients with two different drugs
using co-formulated products or separate i.v.
administrations of a single formulated drug product.
Adcetris® (Brentuximab vedotin), developed and marketed by Seattle
Genetics, and Kadcyla® (Trastuzumab emtansine), developed and
marketed by Genentech/Roche, are two FDA-approved antibody-drug
conjugate therapies used for the treatment of certain cancers.
"We are very excited about this novel, enabling antibody-drug
conjugate technology that we intend to use for the targeted
delivery of MCT-485 as well as other drugs", said W. Gerald Newmin, Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer of MultiCell Technologies. "We also plan to explore
other therapeutic indications, other drug combinations, and to
aggressively seek partnerships with larger pharmaceutical and
biotechnology companies who are interested in using ADC technology
to help facilitate the targeted delivery of their drugs", stated
Mr. Newmin.
MultiCell is evaluating MCT-485, is a very small noncoding
double stranded RNA drug candidate in animal models of
hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatocellular carcinoma is the
most common form of primary liver cancer, and is a leading cause of
cancer death worldwide. Over 1 million cases of
hepatocellular carcinoma are reported annually. Current
approaches for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma are of limited
efficacy. MCT-485, possessing both oncolytic and immune
activating properties, could be superior to currently marketed
therapies by providing a more robust activation of immunity, and a
more global and longer lasting anti-tumor effect.
Additionally, due to its unique mechanism of action, MCT-485 could
prove effective in killing other types of cancers. MultiCell
plans to initiate similar studies in relevant in vitro and
animal models for other major cancers.
About MCT-485
MultiCell Technologies' MCT-485 is a very small noncoding double
stranded RNA, and the first of a family of prospective cancer
therapeutics. MultiCell owns rights to several issued U.S.
and foreign patents and patent applications related to MCT-485 and
other prospective RNA therapeutic candidates.
About MultiCell Technologies, Inc.
MultiCell Technologies, Inc. is a clinical-stage
biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics and
discovery tools for the treatment of neurological disorders,
hepatic disease and cancer. For more information about
MultiCell Technologies, please visit
http://www.multicelltech.com.
Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Any statements in this press release about MultiCell's
expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future
events or performance are not historical facts and are
forward-looking statements for purposes of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act"). These statements
are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases
such as "believe", "will", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate",
"intend", "plan", "forecast", "could", and "would". MultiCell bases
these forward- looking statements on current expectations about
future events. They involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and assumptions that may cause actual results, levels
of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from
those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statement.
Some of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause
actual results to differ materially from estimates or projections
in the forward-looking statement include, but are not limited to,
the risk that we might not achieve our anticipated clinical
development milestones, receive regulatory approval, or
successfully commercialize our products as expected, the market for
our products will not grow as expected, and the risk that our
products will not achieve expectations. For additional
information about risks and uncertainties MultiCell faces, see
documents that MultiCell files with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, including MultiCell's report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended November 30, 2013,
and all of MultiCell's quarterly and other periodic SEC
filings. MultiCell claims the protection of the safe harbor
for forward-looking statements under the Act and assumes no
obligation and expressly disclaims any duty to update any
forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after
the date of this news release or to reflect the occurrence of
subsequent events.
Adcetris® is a registered trademark of Seattle Genetics,
Inc.
Kadcyla® is a registered trademark of Genentech, Inc. and F.
Hoffmann-La Roche AG
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SOURCE MultiCell Technologies, Inc.