Helix BioPharma Corp. and Moffitt Cancer Center extend collaboration on immunotherapy, including study of L-DOS47 with PD-1/P...
October 10 2018 - 7:30AM
Helix BioPharma Corp. (TSX: HBP), (FSE: HBP) (“Helix” or the
“Company”), an immuno-oncology company developing innovative drug
candidates for the prevention and treatment of cancer, today
announced that it has extended its collaboration agreement with
Moffitt Cancer Center for an additional year.
During the first year of the collaboration, a
new pancreatic adenocarcinoma mouse model suitable for testing
L-DOS47 in combination with immunotherapy was developed.
Preliminary studies in this model showed that L-DOS47 may increase
the activity of a PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor in treating pancreatic
cancer. In addition, work was initiated to demonstrate that certain
imaging techniques may be useful in directly measuring tumor
acidity. Helix is hoping to use this non-invasive technique in the
clinic soon.
In year two of the project, work will include
not only the study of L-DOS47 in combination with PD-1/PD-L1
inhibitors, but also in combination with other drugs in the
pancreatic model. Analysis of the immune response that is occurring
in the tumor upon L-DOS47 combination treatment will also be
characterised. Results from these studies will add to the current
understanding of how tumor acidity affects the tumor immune
response. Data from these studies will also support Helix’s plan to
increase the clinical application of L-DOS47 with various
combination treatments, including immunotherapies with checkpoint
inhibitors.
“We are strongly encouraged by our preliminary
data that this may be an effective approach to improving outcomes
to a variety of therapies,” said Dr. Robert Gillies, Martin
Silbiger Endowed Chair, Moffitt Cancer Center. “We know that tumor
acidity is an important contributor to therapy resistance, and thus
neutralizing acidity with L-DOS47 should have a positive effect in
combination with chemotherapies and immune checkpoint
blockade.”
“This years’ Nobel prize in Physiology or
Medicine was awarded for the discovery of cancer therapy by
inhibition of negative immune regulation,” said Heman Chao, Ph.D.,
Chief Executive & Scientific Officer of Helix. “We are very
excited to work with the Moffitt team in applying L-DOS47 in
immunotherapy and we look forward to using L-DOS47 with PD-1/PD-L1
inhibitors in the clinic which could result in significant benefits
to patients.”
About Helix BioPharma Corp.
Helix BioPharma Corp. is an immuno-oncology
company specializing in the field of cancer therapy. The company is
actively developing innovative products for the prevention and
treatment of cancer based on its proprietary technologies. Helix’s
product development initiatives include its novel L-DOS47 new drug
candidate and Chimeric Antigen Receptor (“CAR”) based cell
therapies. Helix is currently listed on the TSX and FSE under the
symbol “HBP”.
About L-DOS47
L-DOS47 is Helix's first immunoconjugate based
drug candidate in development based on the Company’s novel DOS47
platform technology, which is designed to use an innovative
approach to modify the microenvironmental conditions of cancer
cells in a manner that leads to their destruction.
Investor Relations
Helix BioPharma Corp.9120 Leslie Street, Suite
205Richmond Hill, Ontario, L4B 3J9Tel: 905-841-2300Email:
ir@helixbiopharma.com
Cautionary Statements
This news release may contain forward-looking
statements and information (collectively, "forward-looking
statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities
laws. Forward-looking statements are statements and
information that are not historical facts but instead include
financial projections and estimates; statements regarding plans,
goals, objectives, intentions and expectations with respect to
Helix’s future business, operations, research and development,
including Helix’s activities relating to its drug development
program, the anticipated timelines for the commencement or
completion of certain activities, including enrolment of patients,
the expansion of the DOS47 platform into other compounds and
indications and other information in future periods.
Forward-looking statements, which may be identified by words
including, without limitation, “may”, “improve”, “planned”,
“possible”, “postulated”, “enhances”, “potential”, “development”,
“unique”, “expects”, “plans”, “will”, “intends”, “pending”,
“objective”, “exploring”, “projected”, and other similar
expressions, are intended to provide information about management’s
current plans and expectations regarding future operations.
Although Helix believes that the expectations
reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such
statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual
results or events to differ materially from those anticipated and
no assurance can be given that these expectations will be realized,
and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Risk
factors that could cause actual results or events to differ
materially from the forward-looking statements include, without
limitation: (i) Helix’s ability to operate as a going concern being
dependent mainly on securing sufficient additional financing in
order to fund its ongoing research and development and other
operating activities; (ii) the generally inherent uncertainty
involved in scientific research and drug development and those
specific to Helix’s pre-clinical and clinical development programs
(DOS47, L-DOS47, V-DOS47 and CAR-T); (iii) difficulties in
predicting accurate timelines for the commencement or completion of
certain activities including those in support of ongoing clinical
trials; (iv) positive preliminary results from early-stage clinical
trials may not be indicative of the final results from the trial or
be indicative of favorable outcomes in later-stage clinical trials;
(v) delays or inability to complete clinical trials successfully
and the long lead-times and high costs associated with obtaining
regulatory approval to market any product which may result from
successful completion of such trials; (vi) clinical data may not
demonstrate adequate efficacy and safety to result in regulatory
approval to market any of Helix’s product candidates in any
jurisdiction; (vii) economic and market conditions may become worse
and market shifts may require a change in strategic focus; and
(viii) those risks and uncertainties affecting Helix as more fully
described in Helix’s most recent Annual Information Form, including
under the headings “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors”,
filed under Helix’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com (together,
the “Helix Risk Factors”). Certain material factors and assumptions
are applied in making the forward-looking statements, including,
without limitation, that sufficient financing will be obtained in a
timely manner to allow Helix to continue operations and implement
its clinical trials in the manner and on the timelines anticipated
and that the Helix Risk Factors will not cause Helix’s actual
results or events to differ materially from the forward-looking
statements. These cautionary statements qualify all such
forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements and information are
based on the beliefs, assumptions, opinions, plans and expectations
of Helix’s management on the date of this news release, and the
Company does not assume any obligation to update any
forward-looking statement or information should those beliefs,
assumptions, opinions, plans or expectations, or other
circumstances change, except as required by law.
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