Helix BioPharma Corp. (TSX:HBP) said it has entered into a two-year scientific collaboration agreement with University Hospital Tuebingen in Germany to assess the therapeutic response of its lead candidate L-DOS47 in several cancer models expressing CEACAM6, with advanced preclinical metabolic imaging.
The company said it aims to explore the potential synergistic effects of L-DOS47 in combination with checkpoint inhibitors on relevant cancer models. To accomplish this, it has established a partnership with University Hospital Tuebingen to gain further insights into the effects of L-DOS47 on the tumor microenvironment and pH modulation in vivo. CEACAM6 (CEA Cell Adhesion Molecule 6) is a protein coding gene.
In addition, the collaboration will explore the potential for designing novel LDOS47-based radiotracers with application in translational immune-oncology and molecular imaging.
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In a statement, Artur Gabor, CEO of Helix commented: "We are excited to collaborate with the University Hospital of Tuebingen and especially the Medical Faculty, which have relevant experience and knowledge in molecular imaging, particularly the method of AcidoCEST, which makes pH changes in the tumor microenvironment visible through a color change.
“We expect this collaboration to result in new and additional insight into the therapeutic response of L-DOS47 in several not yet explored preclinical cancer models expressing CEACAM6."
Professor Andre F Martins (Ph.D., Department of Preclinical Imaging and Radiopharmacy) and Manfred Kneilling (MD, Department of Preclinical Imaging and Radiopharmacy & Department of Dermatology) of the University of Tuebingen added: "We are pleased to work with Helix on this exciting project. Our technological advances combined with Helix' L-DOS47, which has already shown promising preclinical and clinical safety data, will allow us to gain further insights into its unique mechanism of action.
“L-DOS47 might be in combination with immune check point inhibitor-based immunotherapies and other targeted therapies applicable to promote tumors regression and thus to improve the treatment efficacy and hopefully long-term survival," they said.
Martins and Kneilling are members of the ‘Image-Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies’ (iFIT) Cluster of Excellence at the University of Tuebingen. iFIT is the only oncology-based cluster in Germany, a research consortium aiming to develop innovative and sustainable cancer therapies.
Helix BioPharma is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing unique therapies in the field of immune-oncology for the prevention and treatment of cancer, based on the proprietary technology platform DOS47.
Contact the author at jon.hopkins@proactiveinvestors.com