Scopus BioPharma’s Subsidiary — Duet Therapeutics — Announces Appointment of Marcin Kortylewski, Ph.D. as Senior Scientific Advisor
September 07 2021 - 9:15AM
Scopus BioPharma Inc. (Nasdaq:
“SCPS”), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company
developing transformational therapeutics for serious diseases with
significant unmet medical need, today announced the appointment of
Marcin Kortylewski, Ph.D. as Senior Scientific Advisor of Duet
Therapeutics. Duet Therapeutics is a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Scopus.
Dr. Kortylewski is a Professor in the Department
of Immuno-Oncology at the Beckman Research Institute at City of
Hope National Medical Center. Dr. Kortylewski’s research focuses on
understanding immune cell dysfunction in tumors and translating
those understandings into bi-functional oligonucleotide cancer
therapeutics. A significant focus of Dr. Kortylewski and his team
is on the development of TLR9- and STAT3-targeted oligonucleotide
immunotherapeutics. Dr. Kortylewski’s team is responsible for the
invention and early development of Duet’s three CpG-STAT3
inhibitors.
Duet Therapeutics was recently launched by
Scopus to integrate the immunotherapy assets of Scopus and
Olimmune, creating the Duet Platform. Dr. Kortylewski co-founded
Olimmune with John Rossi, Ph.D., the Lidow Family Research Chair
and Professor of the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology
at City of Hope.
The Duet Platform is comprised of three
distinctive complementary CpG-STAT3 inhibitors:
|
|
CpG-STAT3siRNA |
|
(“DUET-01”) |
|
|
CpG-STAT3ASO |
|
(“DUET-02”) |
|
|
CpG-STAT3decoy |
|
(“DUET-03”) |
In his new role as Senior Scientific Advisor to
Duet, Dr. Kortylewski will continue to provide scientific and other
guidance on the development of the three CpG-STAT3 inhibitors
constituting the Duet Platform. Dr. Kortylewski served on the
Scientific Advisory Board of Scopus prior to Duet’s formation.
Alan Horsager, Ph.D., President and Chief
Executive Officer of Duet and President — Immuno-Oncology for
Scopus, stated, “We are thrilled to have Dr. Kortylewski on our
team as our Senior Scientific Advisor. Dr. Kortylewski has over 20
years of experience in the research and development of cancer
immunotherapies and is the leading authority on bi-functional
oligonucleotide cancer therapeutics. I have worked closely with Dr.
Kortylewski over the last three years and have experienced
firsthand his expertise, enthusiasm and confidence relating to the
Duet Platform technologies and prospects. Dr. Kortylewski and his
lab have been responsible for the discovery and/or early
development of each of the three CpG-STAT3 inhibitors that comprise
the Duet Platform. As the inventor of the Duet Platform
technologies, Dr. Kortylewski is uniquely qualified to advise Duet
on their continued development and evolution.”
On Wednesday, September 8, 2021, Dr. Kortylewski
will be Chair of the Transcription and Control of Gene Expression
session at the 14th Annual RNA Consortium Meeting. On Thursday,
September 9, 2021, Dr. Kortylewski will make a presentation
entitled Dual-Function Oligonucleotides for Targeting Telomerase
and Activation of Antitumor Immunity, as part of the Novel Nucleic
Acid Therapeutics session.
As previously announced, Dr. Horsager will also
present at the RNA Consortium Meeting on Friday, September 10,
2021. Dr. Horsager’s presentation will be part of the Clinical
Translation of Oligonucleotide Therapeutics session. Dr. Horsager
will make a presentation entitled Clinical Development of CpG-STAT3
Inhibitors.
About Scopus BioPharma
Scopus BioPharma Inc., both directly and through
subsidiaries, is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company
developing transformational therapeutics for serious diseases with
significant unmet medical need. The company’s lead drug candidate
is a novel, targeted immuno-oncology RNA therapy for the treatment
of multiple cancers. This drug candidate is highly distinctive,
encompassing both RNA therapy and immunotherapy by synthetically
linking siRNA to an oligonucleotide TLR9 agonist, creating the
potential for targeted gene silencing with simultaneous TLR
stimulation and immune activation in the tumor microenvironment.
Additional STAT3-targeting immunotherapy drug candidates include
bi-functional antisense and DNA-binding inhibition therapies. In
addition, the company is developing additional drug candidates that
target the endocannabinoid system, including MRI-1867 for the
treatment systemic sclerosis. The company also seeks to identify
additional compelling technologies for potential acquisition,
in-licensing and/or other similar transactions. Receive updates by
following Scopus BioPharma on Twitter here.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may include forward-looking
statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking
statements are statements that are not historical facts. Such
forward-looking statements are subject to risks (including those
set forth in the company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2020, as amended, filed with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission (“SEC”)) and uncertainties which could cause
actual results to differ from the forward-looking statements. The
company expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to
release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking
statements contained herein to reflect any change in the company’s
expectations with respect thereto or any change in events,
conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.
Investors should realize that if our underlying assumptions for the
projections contained herein prove inaccurate or that known or
unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could
vary materially from our expectations and projections. Further,
there can be no assurance that the company will identify and/or
consummate any transaction relating to any additional
technologies.
Contacts
Rodd Leeds/David WaldmanCrescendo
Communications, LLCTel: (212) 671-1020Email:
SCPS@crescendo-ir.com
Hugh Burns/Delia Cannan/Nicholas LeasureReevemarkTel: (212)
433-4600Email: scopus@reevemark.com
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