SAN JOSE, Calif., July 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Anixa Biosciences,
Inc. (NASDAQ: ANIX), a biotechnology company focused on the
treatment and prevention of cancer and infectious diseases, today
announced that it and partner OntoChem have completed the initial
in silico screening process of their drug discovery program
and have identified an additional specific compound, as well as
multiple analogs, that could function as inhibitors of the main
protease (Mpro) of the virus. As previously
announced, Anixa and OntoChem have identified four compounds that
could disrupt the function of a viral enzyme called an
endoribonuclease (also known as Non-Structural Protein-15, or
NSP-15).
The potential NSP-15 inhibitors have been synthesized and are in
the process of being tested in biological assays, the results of
which should be available in a few weeks or sooner. The
candidate inhibitors of Mpro are being synthesized, a
process that is anticipated to take three to four weeks, and then
they will be tested in biological assays.
Based on initial identification of the Mpro scaffold
compound, Anixa and OntoChem have created a new in silico
library of analog compounds that will be evaluated through
additional in silico screening to choose which additional
compounds may be synthesized and evaluated in biological
assays.
Dr. Amit Kumar, President and CEO
of Anixa stated, "When we began this collaborative project
approximately two months ago, we indicated that the screening of
the compound libraries would be completed in eight to ten
weeks. We are pleased to have completed this segment of the
program and to have identified multiple key candidates that have
been synthesized or are being synthesized for the next phase, which
is biological testing. While we have made rapid progress on
this program, and we hope to continue that pace, it's important to
note that we are still in the early stages of our development."
"In parallel with the biological testing, we will continue
additional in silico analysis to better refine the clinical
properties of the compounds such as oral availability and other key
drug-like characteristics. Our vision is to have a medicine
that is inexpensive, easy to manufacture and can be taken as a pill
that does not require administration in a hospital setting.
While there is no guarantee that we will achieve this, our in
silico analysis is targeted to identify compounds that have the
best ability to meet these goals," stated Dr. Lutz Weber, CEO of OntoChem.
About Anixa Biosciences, Inc.
Anixa is a
publicly-traded biotechnology company developing a number of
programs addressing cancer and infectious disease. Anixa's
therapeutic portfolio includes a cancer immunotherapy program which
uses a novel type of CAR-T, known as chimeric endocrine receptor
T-cell (CER-T) technology, and a Covid-19 therapeutics program
focused on inhibiting certain viral protein function. The
company's vaccine portfolio consists of a technology focused on the
immunization against α-Lactalbumin to prevent triple negative
breast cancer (TNBC). Anixa continually examines emerging
technologies in complementary fields for further development and
commercialization. Additional information is available at
www.anixa.com.
Forward-Looking Statements: Statements that are not
historical fact may be considered forward-looking statements within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. Forward-looking statements are not statements of
historical facts, but rather reflect Anixa's current expectations
concerning future events and results. We generally use the
words "believes," "expects," "intends," "plans," "anticipates,"
"likely," "will" and similar expressions to identify
forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements,
including those concerning our expectations, involve risks,
uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond our
control, which may cause our actual results, performance or
achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from
any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or
implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks,
uncertainties and factors include, but are not limited to, those
factors set forth in "Item 1A - Risk Factors" and other sections of
our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K as well as in our
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K.
We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise, except as required by law. You
are cautioned not to unduly rely on such forward-looking statements
when evaluating the information presented in this press
release.
Anixa contact:
Mike Catelani
mcatelani@anixa.com
408-708-9808
Tiberend Strategic Advisors, Inc.
Miriam Miller (Investors)
mmiller@tiberend.com
212-375-2694
Johanna Bennett (Media)
jbennett@tiberend.com
212-375-2686
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SOURCE Anixa Biosciences, Inc.