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news.US-based Triphase Accelerator has entered into an academic center collaboration with Canada's Sunnybrook Research Institute to advance development of its new, first-in-class, fully human bi-specific antibody TRPH 011 and evaluate the role of bifunctional targeting of VEGFR-2 and TIE 2 receptors in cancer patients.
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The company said that TRPH 011 binds and neutralizes VEGFR-2/KDR and TIE 2 receptors simultaneously, resulting in sustained inhibition of tumor growth and angiogenesis.
Angiogenesis is the formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing vessels and a fundamental step in the transition of tumors from a benign to a malignant state.
As part of the deal, Triphase will provide funding to the laboratory of Robert Kerbel, senior scientist in the Biological Sciences Platform at Sunnybrook Research Institute of the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto.
Dr Kerbel and his colleagues will be responsible for evaluating TRPH 011 in preclinical pharmacology models.
The deal will see Triphase use the findings to advance the TRPH 011 program toward an Investigational New Drug (IND) filing.
Triphase chief scientific officer, executive vice-president and head of R&D Mohit Trikha said: "By establishing this academic-industry collaboration with Sunnybrook and Dr. Kerbel, a world-renowned expert in the field of tumor angiogenesis and antiangiogenic therapy, we are expanding our unique model of drug development in a mutually beneficial way to advance TRPH 011.
"It will also improve our mechanistic understanding of whether dual targeting of the VEGFR2 and TIE 2 axis is better than targeting just one of these angiogenesis pathways.
"Dr. Kerbel’s expertise in tumor angiogenesis and tumor biology will be invaluable as we pursue our goal of developing this novel biological therapy to improve the lives of cancer patients."
VEGF and TIE 2 pathways are two major routes for formation of new blood vessels in various tumors and they are critical for tumor growth and survival.
In 2014, Triphase entered into a global licensing deal with PharmAbcine under which Triphase has global development and commercial rights for TRPH 011, except China and Korea.