Elthera, a Zug based biopharmaceutical startup, developing proprietary, first-in-class oncology drugs using a personalized health care approach, has completed the first studies of its antibodies against the novel target L1CAM. The results demonstrate the efficacy of its antibodies in preclinical models of the Pancreatic and ovarian cancer.
Pancreatic and ovarian cancer remain areas of large unmet medical need. According to the American Cancer Society, every year, of 100 000 individuals, 12.5 new patients will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer with a 5-year relative survival, for all stages combined, of only 5%. Every year, of 100 000 women, 11.5 new patients will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer with a 5-year relative survival, all stages combined, of 47%.
Elthera is developing the first in class antibody for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with cancer using a personalized health care approach. L1CAM, an adhesion molecule whose expression strongly correlates with an aggressive tumor phenotype and poor prognosis in various types of cancer. Inhibition of L1CAM targets many mechanisms of tumor progression such as resistance to chemotherapy, escape from immunological control, formation of new blood vessels, tumor growth and metastases formation. By combining targeted anti-L1CAM therapy with companion diagnostics, Elthera AG is aiming at providing new personalized treatment options for patients with the most aggressive malignancies.
The startup has now announced the successfully completion of its preclinical Proof of Concept (PoC) studies with positive results. Anne Schmidt, Elthera CEO said, "We are very encouraged by these results demonstrating the efficacy of our antibodies in preclinical models of pancreatic and ovarian carcinomas, both areas where a large unmet medical need remains. These results confirm the multiple publications demonstrating the role of L1CAM in the progression of cancer, and highlight the potential of L1CAM targeting therapies as new treatment for several cancer types expressing L1CAM.
Prof Susanne Sebens, Head of the Institute of Experimental Cancer Research, University Kiel, Germany said: "As coordinator of the Kiel Oncology Network and principal investigator working for many years in the field of pancreatic cancer, I am highly impressed by the strong positive therapeutic effects obtained with the anti-L1CAM antibodies in the pancreatic study. I consider L1CAM as a promising target for cancer therapy to improve the treatment of tumors with a high unmet medical need such as pancreatic cancer."
Elthera is authorised to use the license from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), the largest biomedical research institution in Germany and a leading center in oncology research. Last year the company secured CHF 2 million in funding, which it used to generate the first PoC data. Currently, the company is soliciting funds for its Seed round for identifying the clinical candidate by end of 2018.
(press release/ran)
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