At the 36th ENA – EORTC – AACR symposium, Firas Bassissi, XENOTHERA’s Scientific Director, presented highly promising results in pancreatic cancer.
XON11 is a new multi-target antibody from XENOTHERA’s platform. It targets several pancreatic cancer antigens, and is currently undergoing pre-clinical testing. It has potent anti-tumour activity against several pancreatic cancer cell lines, with an IC50 of less than 50ug/ml[1], demonstrating the high therapeutic potential of XON 11. Two main mechanisms of action have been identified, allowing for tumour cells destruction : complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) and apoptosis. XON11 therefore activates not only the immune proteins that target and destroy cancer cells, but also triggers internal signals (such as DNA damage) and external signals to the cancer cell (such as receptors on the cell surface), leading to its destruction.
XON11 significantly kills pancreatic cancer cells, including those resistant to Gemcitabine, a chemotherapy indicated for several serious cancers including pancreatic cancer. The anti-tumorigenic activity was confirmed in a spheroid model of the ASPC1 line. Spheroids, which are cell clusters in vitro, mimic the development of cancerous tumours, making it possible to study the ability of a drug to inhibit tumour growth.
In vivo, in a mouse model of pancreatic adenocarcinoma, an injection of XON11 inhibits tumour growth by more than 50% for at least three weeks, without any toxicity, unlike Gemcitabine, where a 20% mortality rate is observed in mice treated with chemotherapy.
These results, published by XENOTHERA at the Barcelona congress, offer definite hope for patients suffering from pancreatic cancer. This particularly aggressive cancer affects more than 500,000 new patients worldwide every year, with a five-year survival rate estimated at 7% only.
Quote from Odile Duvaux, President and co-founder of XENOTHERA :
‘Cancer is one of our most promising and innovative strategic areas. The use of multi-targeted antibodies such as our glyco-humanised polyclonal antibodies is increasingly recognized by our industry as a source of hope for patients. XON11 strengthens our oncology portfolio, which already includes a product in the clinic, XON7, in phase I/II since 2023, with an excellent safety profile in patients. We are fully committed to fighting the dreaded pancreatic cancer, and I sincerely hope that these initial results will one day lead to a treatment for patients, which is so important.’
For more information (click here to see the poster)
About XENOTHERA:
Founded in 2014 by a team of renowned scientists (Prof. Jean-Paul Soulillou, Nantes, Prof. Jean-Marie Bach, Nantes, Prof. Emanuele Cozzi, Padua, Prof. Cesare Galli, Cremona) and under the presidency of Odile Duvaux, Doctor of Medicine and graduate of the École Normale Supérieure, XENOTHERA is a Nantes-based biotech company developing new therapeutic approaches in a wide range of fields, with a clear focus on oncology and immunology. The company develops treatments based on a unique glyco-humanized antibody technology. Its technological platform is based on dual expertise in genetics and immunology.
The biotech has a comprehensive portfolio of products, three of which are in clinical phase. Its main assets are LIS1 for transplantation, XON7 for solid tumors and LIS22 for onco-hematology.
XENOTHERA is part of the scientific and medical environment of the Pays de la Loire region (France). Since its creation, the company has raised 43 million euros, its main financiers being the Pays de la Loire Region, BPI France and the European fund EIC Fund, as well as private investors.
[1] IC50 (inhibitory concentration 50) is a measure used to assess the efficacy of a substance. An IC50 of 50 µg/ml means that half of the maximum antitumor activity is achieved at this concentration. The lower the IC50, the more potent the product is at low doses.
More information: www.xenothera.com
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