SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug. 13,
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 identified additional candidates through their in
silico screening study. In addition to four compounds
that target an endoribonuclease (also known as Non-Structural
Protein-15, or NSP-15) and one additional core compound that
targets the main protease (Mpro) of the virus, Anixa and
OntoChem have identified 26 additional compounds targeting
Mpro.
"After identifying the initial core chemical structure that
targets the Mpro, we built a broader chemical library
around that structure and screened all of those compounds.
The result was a group of over 8,000 chemicals that could be strong
disruptors of this coronavirus enzyme. These compounds were
then evaluated through additional machine learning and screening to
identify those that demonstrated the best drug-like
characteristics. This subset library consisted of 317
molecules that were further evaluated in silico. The
resulting 26 best candidates are being further evaluated, and we
expect to select a number of them to be synthesized for further
testing," stated Dr. Amit Kumar,
President and CEO of Anixa Biosciences. "These compounds are
novel enough that we have also begun drafting our first U.S.
provisional patent to protect these molecules. We expect to
file this patent shortly."
Dr. Lutz Weber, CEO of OntoChem
stated, "Biological testing of the initial four NSP-15 molecules is
ongoing. The new Mpro compounds are currently
being synthesized, and upon completion will also be evaluated in
biological assays. Because the Mpro is a very
active target being studied by many research groups around the
world, we wanted to file our patent before the completion of
synthesis and before we share these molecules with service
providers needed to help us complete the biological assays."
Dr. Kumar added, "While this program is still in the discovery
stage, we have made rapid progress in the less than four months
since we began. Due to the urgency of the pandemic, we will
continue to provide frequent updates as appropriate."
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.