InterDigital Inc (IDCC)

[tradero]

Mickey sorry to hear that.
There have been lately quite a few articles on the press mentioning a new approach to fight cancer based on our own Immunological System. I have been following a small Pharma Company (Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, PPHM) and its amazing discovery on this field that I would like to share in the hope it can be useful to you. Sorry for my amateurish Medical explanations.

Late Dr. Thorpe (“the inventor”) found out that a lipid PS phosphatidylserine (PS), a highly immunosuppressive molecule normally located on the interior of cellular membranes… but, following stresses in the tumor environment, becomes exposed on tumor cells and cells that line tumor blood vessels, helping tumors to evade immune detection. Bavituximav (the drug developed to this effect) as a PS-targeting antibodies block this immunosuppressive signal, thereby enabling the immune system to better recognize and fight the tumor.

The rather outstanding preclinical data show that the combination of bavituximab (Bavi) and inhibitors of immune checkpoints reduce tumor-suppressive factors including myeloid-derived suppressor cells and confer increased tumor-specific immunity when compared to either treatment alone.

Bavi has a universal target, exposed PS, which is associated with many diseases. This is quite unlike the narrow targets available to the downstream immunotherapies. Those downstream I/Os like CTLA-4, PD-1, and PD-L1 targets are enriched by treatment (pre-treatment) with Bavi (as an upstream agent), allowing them much needed enhanced response rates. This occurs in the INNATE immune system.

Currently they are on a Phase III for lung cancer, etc. but all this info you can find on their website. http://www.peregrineinc.com/clinical-trials.html

In plain language, the preclinical trials done on rats were outstanding since some rats were 100% cured and had developped a self induced anti-tumor mechanism.