OXIS International, Inc. (OTCMKTS:OXIS) announced that it acquired the rights to develop and market a new technology, from the University of Minnesota. The Trispecific Killer Engager (TriKE), as it is called, tends to target NK cells for the treatment of cancer. The CEO of OXIS, Anthony J. Cataldo, stated that this provides OXIS with a significant new asset. He also revealed that the technology has already been tested in pre-clinical models and shown to be effective, with no adverse effects.
It should be noted here that rising pharmaceutical companies, within the oncology sector, have recently been focusing on the use of CAR-T therapies. OXIS believes that CAR-T therapies carry a number of side effects. This is mainly due to the fact that the treatment works by increasing toxicity, inside the body. Mr. Cataldo stated that immunotherapy research has shown that killing would soon not be enough. He went on to clarify that TriKE delivers a similar outcome, but does not increase the toxicity levels to do so.
A statement from Jeffrey Miller, the deputy director of the “Masonic Cancer Center”, revealed that the university and OXIS were soon going to engage with the FDA, to gain approval for clinical trials. Initially, these would be aimed at determining the safety and efficacy of the treatment.
In addition to this, the company also attracted attention of the general media, for its cancer therapies. This can be assessed by the fact that innovative cancer therapies from OXIS had been profiled on the Fox Business Network, on July 24. This was also accompanied by an interview of Mr. Cataldo, on the program Worldwide Business with Kathy Ireland. The CEO himself acknowledged the importance of this exposure, claiming that the company is little known in the stock markets.
Mr. Cataldo reaffirmed that showcasing the company’s products and achievements was a great way to gain attention. OXIS International had also scheduled its recent conference call, for the 2Q2016, on July 21. The call had been hosted by BiotechStocks.com. The CEO had been very optimistic about the current year’s outlook. He also provided an update of the future plans of the company, for this year and the next.
A more renowned company, working on the development of immunotherapies to fight cancer, is Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE). The company has recently been working with Spark Therapeutics, on SPK-9001. The drug is currently in the phase-1/2 clinical trials. The two companies are working towards developing SPK-9001 as a onetime therapy, to treat hemophilia B. It should be noted here that the drug has already received the title of breakthrough therapy, from the US FDA. Preliminary results, filed by PFE, have revealed that the drug is well tolerated, amongst patients and does not trigger immunosuppresion.
It should be noted here that there are currently four subjects in the clinical trials for the drug. Furthermore, a poster presentation of the drug was to be delivered at the 2016 International Congress of the WFH, on July 25. Another presentation for the drug has been scheduled for July 27, 2016.
