Ocean Biomedical Announces Promising Results in Cancer Immunotherapy Research
Ocean Biomedical, a biopharmaceutical company based in Providence, Rhode Island, has recently shared exciting updates regarding its cancer immunotherapy research. The company’s cancer-targeting immunotherapy antibody candidate has shown significant tumor reduction in an aggressive subset of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) with Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) mutations.
The groundbreaking research, led by Dr. Jack A. Elias and his colleagues from Yale University and Brown University, has uncovered the role of Chitinase 3-like-1 (CHI3L1) in the development of EGFR-mutant cancers. This discovery has potential applications not only in NSCLC but also in other EGFR-mutant cancers, such as glioblastoma and colon cancer.
The studies have demonstrated the ability of Ocean Biomedical’s cancer-targeting immunotherapeutic antibody to control the growth of human tumor cells with EGFR mutations by suppressing CHI3L1 activity. Additionally, the antibody has shown the remarkable ability to restore therapeutic sensitivity to current tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapies, including Osimertinib (marketed as Tagrisso by AstraZeneca), after resistance develops.
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, accounting for 85% of all lung cancers. The EGFR-mutant lung cancer is prevalent in 30%-50% of NSCLC patients with Asian heritage and 10%-20% of patients with Caucasian backgrounds. While current TKI therapies can effectively treat this type of lung cancer for a limited period, patients eventually develop therapeutic resistance.
Ocean Biomedical’s anti-CHI3L1 antibody has demonstrated potential use in EGFR-mutant cancer immunotherapy in multiple ways. It can be used as a stand-alone therapy, in combination with current TKI inhibitors, or as a “salvage therapy” in combination with TKI inhibitors like Osimertinib, potentially extending their therapeutic life.
The company’s recent findings have shown effective tumor reduction in multiple testing combinations. In mouse lung model testing with TKI inhibitors Gefitinib and Osimertinib, Ocean’s antibody demonstrated a reduction of lung tumor metastasis by over 50%.
Dr. Elias, the scientific co-founder of Ocean Biomedical, expressed excitement about the effectiveness of their anti-CHI3L1 antibody in suppressing and reversing tumor growth in EGFR-mutant lung cancer cells. He also highlighted its ability to restore therapeutic effectiveness in cells that have developed resistance to Osimertinib.
Ocean Biomedical plans to host an R&D Update on October 19, 2023, to provide further details about its cancer program, including these groundbreaking findings. The company aims to answer investor questions and discuss the potential impact of their research on cancer treatment.
The promising results from Ocean Biomedical’s cancer immunotherapy research could potentially save thousands of lives. Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria, the company’s Executive Chairman and founder, expressed pride in the pioneering work conducted by Dr. Elias and his colleagues at Yale and Brown.
Ocean Biomedical, with its innovative business model, is dedicated to accelerating the development and commercialization of scientifically compelling assets from research universities and medical centers. The company is currently working on five promising discoveries that have the potential to bring life-changing outcomes in lung cancer, brain cancer, pulmonary fibrosis, and the prevention and treatment of malaria.
As Ocean Biomedical continues to expand its understanding of the role of CHI3L1 in driving tumor formation, the potential therapeutic applications in their cancer platform are growing. The company aims to benefit patients and stakeholders alike by addressing major unmet medical needs and advancing discovery science into much-needed therapeutics.
For more information about Ocean Biomedical and its research, visit their website at www.oceanbiomedical.com.