Sona Nanotech Inc (CSE:SONA, OTCQB:SNANF) is joining forces with BioVaxys Technology Corp. (CSE:BIOV, OTCQB:BVAXF) to explore a new approach to cancer treatment.
The two companies are collaborating on research that brings together Sona’s Targeted Hyperthermia Therapy (THT) and BioVaxys’ DPX Immune Educating Platform, with the goal of developing a next-generation cancer therapy.
The companies plan to evaluate whether the immune-priming effects of the DPX platform can enhance the efficacy of THT, a photothermal cancer treatment that uses biocompatible gold nanorods and targeted infrared light to destroy solid tumors and stimulate immune responses.
Both companies will contribute their proprietary technologies, and any resulting therapeutic candidates will be co-owned and jointly developed under a planned commercialization agreement.
“Looking beyond our upcoming first-in-human clinical trial for THT, we are expanding our pipeline to fully exploit the potential of our GNR technology,” said Dr Carman Giacomantonio, chief medical officer at Sona.
“DPX, with its immune-stimulating and antigen-presentation capabilities, could be an ideal carrier for the neoantigens induced by THT, potentially accelerating therapeutic efficacy.”
Research will be conducted at Dalhousie University in Halifax, by Dr Giacomantonio and Dr Barry Kennedy of the Giacomantonio Immuno-Oncology Research Group, which is funding the study.
Sona’s THT has shown strong preclinical results, including in cancer models resistant to immunotherapy. At the Canadian Melanoma Conference earlier this year, Sona presented data showing that its THT platform activated systemic immunity and sensitized tumors to checkpoint inhibitors, achieving a 100% response rate in previously resistant CT-26 colon cancer models.
“We are very pleased to evaluate the synergy between our DPX platform and Sona’s THT and GNR technologies,” said Kenneth Kovan, president and COO of BioVaxys. “With encouraging clinical and preclinical data from both companies, our collaboration could lead to a new treatment option for immunotherapy-resistant tumors.”
The partnership will examine the immune-stimulatory properties of DPX both with and without antigen cargo, as well as its use as a carrier for tumor-specific neoantigens expressed after photothermal treatment. These antigens, which are unique to cancer cells, play a key role in generating targeted immune responses.