Patrys Ltd (ASX:PAB) welcomes news that a range of studies which show that the company’s asset PAT-DX1 suppresses the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in neutrophil cells have been published in the peer-reviewed journal ImmunoHorizons.
The article, 'Inhibition of NETosis by a nuclear penetrating anti-DNA autoantibody', by Patrys collaborators Dr James Hansen, of Yale School of Medicine and Dr Kim O’Sullivan, of Monash University, is the first study showing that PAT-DX1 may be used to regulate the formation of NETs.
New approaches to cancer and inflammatory diseases
The therapeutic antibody development company says these findings will open up new approaches for using Patrys’ deoxymabs to potentially treat metastatic cancer, as well as certain inflammatory diseases.
NETs are structures that are composed of DNA strands and certain proteins produced by neutrophils, a type of white blood cell, and have been implicated in progression and metastasis in some cancers.
The findings support the company’s view that there is an additional mechanism by which Patrys’ deoxymabs may be used for the treatment of cancer and certain inflammatory diseases.
Role of NETs in cancer
Recent studies in both animal models and patients have indicated that NETs may play an important role in the establishment and maintenance of cancer cells, cancer spreading (metastasis), and regulating inflammation.
Patrys’ antibodies are known to bind DNA and to inhibit the DNA damage repair process (DDR) in cell nuclei. The DDR process contributes to the mechanism of formation of NETs, a process called NETosis.
Release of DNA that is associated with NETs is believed to contribute to immunity, inflammation and the pathophysiology of various inflammatory diseases and some cancers.
The study's authors found by using a range of experimental approaches that PAT-DX1 can inhibit NET production and release.
These results raise the possibility that PAT-DX1 may have a role in developing treatments for a range of indications from metastatic cancer through to chronic inflammatory diseases.
Patrys CEO and managing director Dr James Campbell said: “This is an unexpected and important discovery for Patrys, offering mechanistic rationale to the previously described ability of PAT-DX1 to reduce cancer spread by metastasis, and opening the door to broader uses of deoxymabs in non-cancer indications, particularly chronic inflammatory conditions that are driven by NET formation.
“The discovery has been protected by patent application and opens new areas for business development to Patrys.”