SAN JOSE, Calif., Dec. 13, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Anixa Biosciences,
Inc. (NASDAQ: ANIX), a biotechnology company focused on harnessing
the body's immune system in the fight against cancer, today
announced an update regarding the chimeric antigen receptor T-cell
(CAR-T) technology it is developing with its partner, Moffitt
Cancer Center.
Experimental results reported from the laboratory of Dr.
Jose Conejo-Garcia, the inventor of
Anixa's CAR-T technology and the Chair of the Department of
Immunology at Moffitt, indicate that the potential efficacy of this
technology as a treatment for ovarian cancer could be greatly
improved through additional genetic engineering.
CAR-T therapy begins with the extraction and isolation of
T-cells from individual cancer patients. A viral vector is
then used to transform these T-cells to produce on their surface a
molecule that enables the cell, once re-infused into the patient,
to find cancer cells and kill them. With Anixa's CAR-T
therapy, the T-cells are transformed to express on their surface,
the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), which targets cells that
are expressing follicle stimulating hormone receptor
(FSHR).
Dr. Conejo-Garcia's recent experimental results indicate that
with additional engineering, the transformed cells produced by the
viral vector currently being used could express much higher levels
of FSH, enabling a more potent cancer killer. In order to
increase the potency of the transformed T-cells, researchers at
Moffitt will create an improved viral vector and verify
experimentally that it will result in a more powerful cancer
therapy. As a result, the decision has been made to optimize
the therapy and file an Investigational New Drug (IND) application
with the US. Food and Drug Administration in the future. This
optimization work may take an additional year, resulting in the
filing of the IND in late 2020, with clinical trials to commence in
2021.
Dr. Amit Kumar, President and CEO
of Anixa Biosciences stated, "While this new development may be
disappointing to shareholders, we have decided that we want to go
into the clinic with the best possible therapy. CAR-T
technology has not worked in a clinically meaningful way for solid
tumors. Making this change would result in a radically
superior therapy and give us a dramatically greater chance of
success against ovarian cancer, a solid tumor."
"These decisions are based on scientific developments. Our
technology is the most cutting-edge science and as R&D results
mandate, and for the welfare of patients, we must provide the best
possible chance of success. The Anixa and Moffitt teams will
strive to get into the clinic as soon as possible with the best
possible therapy," commented Dr. Conejo-Garcia.
Dr. Robert Wenham, Chair of the
Department of Gynecologic Oncology at Moffitt, and the investigator
who will be leading the clinical trial, noted, "Mortality rates
from ovarian cancer have not changed for decades, with most women
relapsing after initial therapy. Based on the pre-clinical
data and promise of this CAR-T therapy, I look forward to launching
the clinical trial with the more optimized therapy in order to give
our patients the best chance of a successful outcome."
About Anixa Biosciences, Inc.
Anixa is a
publicly-traded biotechnology company focused on harnessing the
body's immune system in the fight against cancer. Anixa's
therapeutic portfolio includes a cancer vaccine technology focused
on the immunization against α-Lactalbumin to prevent triple
negative breast cancer (TNBC), as well as a cancer immunotherapy
program which uses a novel type of CAR-T, known as chimeric
endocrine receptor T-cell (CER-T) technology. The company's
diagnostic portfolio consists of Cchek™, a liquid biopsy technology
for early detection of solid tumors based on the body's immune
response to the presence of a malignancy. 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
View original content to download
multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/anixa-biosciences-provides-update-on-car-t-program-300974423.html
SOURCE Anixa Biosciences, Inc.