Targeted Immuno-Oncology Platform
Therapy | Indication | Partners | Discovery | Pre-Clinical | Phase I | Phase II |
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ACT-901 (AFP + paclitaxel) |
Targeted Immuno-Oncology Solid and liquid tumors |
Collaboration University Health Network |
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ACT-902 (AFP + thapsigargin) |
Targeted Immuno-Oncology Solid and liquid tumors |
Collaboration University Health Network |
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ACT-903 (AFP + linker + maytansine) |
Targeted Immuno-Oncology Solid and liquid tumors |
Collaboration Abzena |
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Lead Assets
ACT-901 (AFP + paclitaxel)
- Paclitaxel is a widely used generic chemotherapy
- ACT-901 combines highly targeted transporter protein AFP with a paclitaxel payload
ACT-902 (AFP + thapsigargin)
- Thapsigargin is a potent generic chemotherapy drug equally effective against aggressive and slow growing tumors
- ACT-902 combines highly targeted transporter protein AFP with a thapsigargin payload
ACT-903 (AFP + linker + maytansine)
- Maytansine is a potent microtubule-targeted chemotherapy drug that induces mitotic arrest and kills tumor cells
- ACT-903 combines highly targeted transporter protein AFP with a maytansine payload using cleavable linker
Targeted Immuno-Oncology
Alpha Fetoprotein (AFP)
- AFP a shuttle protein that targets AFP receptors on cancer cells
- Majority of solid and liquid cancer cells (>80%) have AFP receptors
- Healthy cells do not have AFP receptors
- Payload is delivered selectively to cancer cells
Preparation of ACT-901 (Taxol Solubilization)
Benefits
- Formulation combining two well-known compounds
- Currently in development for ovarian cancer / testicular germ cell tumors – Orphan Drug / Breakthrough Therapy
- Will expand to other major indications
- Overcomes chemotherapy drug resistance as delivery bypasses membrane pumps
- AFP is non-immunogenic in humans - demonstrated safety in over 300 patients (as safe as placebo)
- Frequency of treatment driven by efficacy, not toxicity avoidance
- Treatment expected to minimize pain, suffering and healthcare cost
Target Product Profile
- Significantly less toxicity than targeted and non-targeted chemotherapy
- Improved efficacy compared with chemotherapy
- Not necessary to preselect patients for expression of the AFP receptor, because receptors are expressed in most cancers (solid and liquid), but are absent in normal tissues