Cancer-fighting antibody passes key development milestone
A biological therapy co-developed by Southampton scientists has passed a crucial international milestone in its fight against cancer.
Researchers from the University of Southampton showed in 2015 that the BI-1206 antibody can help overcome resistance of certain blood cancer cells to treatment.
The antibody has now been granted Orphan Drug Designation by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for follicular lymphoma (FL). The move streamlines the pathway for its development against Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL).
Positive signals from early studies
In Southampton pre-clinical studies with BioInvent International, BI-1206 were shown to recruit host immune cells toward the tumour and attack the cancer cells. This also enhanced the anti-cancer effect of other therapeutic antibodies, such as rituximab, by stopping them being absorbed by the tumour cells.
The lab-based research was followed by first-in-human trials before later studies evaluated the potential treatment of NHL.
Professor Mark Cragg, who led the 2015 research alongside Dr Ali Roghanian and Professor Bjorn Frendeus, said:
“Southampton has a rich history of taking lab-based research into the clinic and this is a perfect example. We are very proud that our original research, undertaken alongside BioInvent International, is progressing through clinical studies with the possibility of making positive impacts on patients’ lives.”
Today, cutting-edge immunotherapy, immunomodulation and cancer vaccine research continues at the University of Southampton Centre for Cancer Immunology.
Research progresses toward patients
The progression of BI-1206 is not the only recent success underpinned by Southampton cancer research.
Work by Professors Sally Ward and Raimund Ober has underpinned two drugs that have received approval by the FDA.
Evusheld is a combination of the monoclonal antibodies Tixagevimab and Cilgavimab and has been approved to prevent COVID-19 in immunodeficient adults and children.
The team’s Abdeg technology, licenced to Argenx, has also led to the development of the drug Vyvgart (efgartigimod). This has now been approved for the treatment of the autoimmune condition, generalised myasthenia gravis (gMG) in adults.
Professor Ward said: “As scientists, we know it can take years for our lab-based research to have an impact in the clinic and on patient lives. It is both very gratifying and exciting to see these recent approvals from the FDA for drugs that have stemmed from the licencing of technologies that have come out of our lab.
“We have worked closely with Argenx on the development of Vyvgart and the company has done an impressive job of moving this forward in the clinic to treat potentially devastating diseases such as myasthenia gravis, a chronic autoimmune, neuromuscular disease.”
Read the full story on the recent FDA approvals on the Southampton Centre for Cancer Immunology website.
Image credit: Professor Mark Cragg, courtesy of University of Southampton.