Cancer Research UK and Biotecnol to trial new immunotherapy

Cancer Research UK will support the early clinical development of the company’s promising first-in-class drug called Tb535H.

The drug is the first to emerge from Biotecnol’s novel antibody development platform, Trisoma. It is directed against the 5T4/WAIF1 tumour antigen, a protein found on many different solid tumours that is thought to contribute to the spread of cancer cells.

The WAIF1 antigen was discovered by scientists at the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute. It could be a valuable target in many different cancer types, but the initial focus in this trial will be to treat cancers with high unmet-need. This includes thoracic cancers such as mesothelioma, small-cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), for which survival remains very low, and renal cell carcinoma.

Under the agreement, Biotecnol and Cancer Research UK’s Centre for Drug Development will collaborate to take forward Tb535H through a Biotecnol-sponsored first-in-man Phase I clinical trial, using Cancer Research UK’s drug development expertise in return for shareholdings in Biotecnol.