Macomics and the Institute of Oncology Research (IOR, Switzerland) Announce Macrophage Scientific Collaboration in Prostate Cancer Drug Development
June 19 2024 - 4:00AM
Macomics Ltd, a leader in macrophage drug discovery, announces that
it has entered a scientific collaboration with Prof. Andrea
Alimonti at IOR (Institute of Oncology Research), one of
Switzerland’s leading research institutes.
IOR is focused on the study of cancer formation
and development at the molecular level. Prof. Alimonti’s laboratory
is pioneering studies on prostate cancer. The collaboration will
see Macomics work with Dr Bianca Calì in Prof. Alimonti’s lab to
synergize this deep knowledge, particularly in the use of novel in
vivo mouse models, with Macomics’ macrophage expertise. The goal is
to explore new modes of action for macrophage-targeted
therapies.
Macomics is exploiting the potential of
macrophage-targeted approaches to develop first-in-class medicines
to address disease of high unmet medical need. The company’s
ENIGMAC™ macrophage drug discovery platform allows access to
previously hidden or inaccessible disease-specific macrophage
targets: It integrates large volume human data sets, next
generation human macrophage cell models, and proprietary macrophage
gene editing capability to discover novel targets, unlock new
disease biology, and de-risk clinical translation.
Under the collaboration, the parties will
explore together the potential for the use of novel in vivo
prostate cancer models developed by the Alimonti lab in the
characterisation of macrophage-targeted therapies, including
testing of novel drug candidates with new modes of action
discovered by Macomics in its complex human assay systems.
Dr Luca Cassetta,
VP Immunology and Founder of
Macomics, said, “We are delighted to collaborate with
Prof. Alimonti as he is a prostate cancer expert. This
collaboration will allow us to optimise the design of our therapies
by accessing novel prostate cancer mouse models in which myeloid
cells play a fundamental role for tumor progression.”
Prof. Andrea Alimonti, IOR director,
said, “This collaboration represents an exciting
opportunity to combine our pioneering research in prostate cancer
with Macomics' expertise in macrophage-targeted therapies. By
leveraging our deep understanding of molecular mechanisms in cancer
development and utilizing our preclinical models, we aim to uncover
innovative approaches for combating advanced prostate cancer, a
disease for which a definitive cure remains an unmet clinical
challenge.”
Dr Stephen Myatt, CEO of Macomics,
said, “This collaboration enhances further our ability to
explore and exploit macrophage biology for the development of novel
therapeutic approaches. Macrophages are key to multiple diseases of
high unmet medical need, including as key mediators of solid tumour
immunosuppression and pathological inflammation in chronic
inflammatory disorders.”
About Macomics –
www.macomics.com
Macomics Ltd is a macrophage drug discovery
company with a world-leading macrophage drug discovery platform,
developing first-in-class medicines to deliver transformational
impact for patients with macrophage-driven diseases: Macrophages
are key to multiple diseases of high unmet medical need, including
as key mediators of solid tumour immunosuppression and pathological
inflammation in chronic inflammatory disorders.
The company is progressing a diversified
portfolio of therapies targeting disease specific macrophages
towards the clinic. Its ENIGMAC macrophage drug discovery platform
enables identification and validation of novel macrophage
therapeutic targets and provides a translationally relevant path to
clinic through the development of more physiologically relevant
human macrophage models combined with proprietary gene editing
technology.
The company was co-founded in 2020 by Prof.
Jeffrey Pollard and Dr Luca Cassetta, University of Edinburgh,
internationally recognised leaders in macrophage biology. It has
R&D and office facilities in Edinburgh and Cambridge, UK. The
company’s financing was led by Epidarex Capital, and the company is
backed by Scottish Enterprise, LifeLink Ventures and Caribou
Property Limited.
Follow us on LinkedIn and
https://twitter.com/MacomicsL
About IOR -
https://ior.usi.ch/
The Institute of Oncology Research (IOR) is a
not-for-profit research institute located in Bellinzona
(Switzerland) affiliated with the Università della Svizzera
italiana (USI) and directed by Prof. Andrea Alimonti. Established
in 2003, the IOR research spans from basic research to
translational and clinical research on various aspects of cancer
biology, diagnosis and therapy. With eight active research groups,
the IOR hosts researchers from all over the world performing basic
and translational research in oncology, with a special focus on
cancer biology, genomics, molecular oncology, and experimental
therapeutics.
With approximately 100 researchers (data updated
in 2023), the IOR operates two main research programs: the "Tumor
Biology and Experimental Therapeutics Research Program,” focusing
on solid tumors, and the "Lymphoma and Genomics Research Program,"
addressing hematological neoplasias and lymphomas.
Researchers at the IOR employ an
interdisciplinary approach, integrating biological, genomics, and
molecular methods with preclinical and translational studies. The
Institute emphasizes collaboration and interaction among teams and
programs to achieve common goals, such as understanding cancer
mechanisms and developing new diagnostic and therapeutic
strategies.
Follow us on LinkedIn and https://twitter.com/IOR_Bellinzona
For further information please contact:
Macomics
At the Company - Steve Myatt, CEO, Macomics
E: myatt@macomics.com
Media enquiries (for Macomics) - Sue Charles,
Charles Consultants T: +44 (0)7968 726585
E: sue@charles-consultants.com
Institute of Oncology Research
At the Institute – Andrea Alimonti, Director,
E: andrea.alimonti@ior.usi.ch
Media enquiries (for IOR) – USI Institutional
Communication Service, T: +41 58 666 47 92
E: press@usi.ch