Defence Therapeutics’ AccuTOX? study published in the Journal of Translational Medicine

Defence Therapeutics Inc. has announced the publication of a groundbreaking peer-reviewed study on the anti-cancer properties of its unconjugated AccuTOX?, one of the company’s leading products designed to treat established solid tumours.

This significant study, titled ‘Local delivery of AccuTOX? synergises with immune-checkpoint inhibitors at disrupting tumor growth’,?has been published in the esteemed Journal of Translational Medicine.

Dr. Moutih Rafei ???? ??????? , the Chief Scientific Officer of Defence Therapeutics, commented: “This study presents insights into how the unconjugated AccuTOX? molecule works.

“More specifically, we demonstrate that AccuTOX? displays improved killing efficiency, triggers immunogenic cell death and produces toxic byproducts while inducing endosomal breaks.

“Moreover, AccuTOX??enhances cancer cell visibility to the immune system. It is very rare to have a drug capable of fighting cancer on multiple fronts simultaneously.”

Development of AccuTOX?

The Accum? platform was originally created to enhance the accumulation of biomedicines in target cells by promoting endosomal-to-cytosol escape.

Interestingly, unconjugated Accum? was found to induce cell death in various cancer cell lines, leading to the development of Accum?-based anti-cancer therapies.

However, resistance in some cancer cell lines necessitated the testing of additional Accum? variants, resulting in the discovery of the AccuTOX? molecule.

AccuTOX? offers several advantages over its parent molecule, Accum?:

• Enhanced killing potency: AccuTOX? demonstrates superior killing efficiency while maintaining the endosomal-to-cytosol escape function.
• Ease of manufacture: The molecule is straightforward to produce.
• Targeted therapy: It can be linked to antibodies as an in situ cleavable anti-cancer molecule, enhancing specificity.
• Versatility: AccuTOX? targets multiple intracellular pathways relevant to cancer growth and progression.

Key findings from the study

The study highlights several critical findings regarding AccuTOX?:

• Therapeutic superiority: AccuTOX? outperforms the parent Accum? in both in vitro and in vivo settings.
• Cell death induction: The molecule induces cell death in various murine and human cancer cell lines, including T-cell lymphoma, colon, melanoma, lung, and breast cancers.
• Reactive oxygen species production: AccuTOX? triggers the intracellular production of reactive oxygen species and disrupts endosomal membranes.
• Immunogenic cell death: Following AccuTOX? contact, cancer cells undergo immunogenic cell death.
• No apparent toxicity: The compound elicits similar responses in both male and female animals without significant toxicity.
• Enhanced antigen presentation: AccuTOX? enhances antigen presentation, making tumours more visible to immune cells.
• Synergistic effects: Intratumoral administration of AccuTOX? in lymphoma, melanoma, or breast cancer synergises with common immune-checkpoint inhibitors, effectively controlling tumour growth.

Sébastien Plouffe , Chief Executive Officer of Defence Therapeutics , added: “In addition to providing an important validation of the antitumoral properties of unconjugated AccuTOX?, this compound currently represents the lead core technology at Defence as the same molecule can be used to generate three different lines of therapies with distinct modes of action (anti-cancer injectable, cell-based vaccine and as a payload for ADCs).

“This unique versatility could pave the path for additional lines of investigations, and it represents a ‘one solution for three major problems’ at once.”

Implications and future directions

The findings suggest that unconjugated AccuTOX? could serve as a potent anti-cancer agent. The unexpected induction of immunogenic cell death by AccuTOX? introduces an immune component to the treatment, potentially transforming ‘cold’ tumours into ‘hot’ tumours with increased immune cell infiltration.

This promising approach has already received FDA clearance for a Phase I trial. Defence Therapeutics has also submitted a Clinical Trial Application (CTA) to Health Canada to expand clinical testing.

The publication of this study marks a significant milestone in the development of AccuTOX? as a versatile and effective anti-cancer therapy.

The encouraging results highlight the potential for AccuTOX? to improve cancer treatment outcomes through its unique mechanisms of action and synergistic effects with existing therapies.

More information on Defence Therapeutics can be found here

https://www.healtheuropa.com/defence-therapeutics-transforming-drug-delivery-and-improving-treatment/109504/

Sebastien Plouffe

Chief Executive Officer

Defence Therapeutics

Phone: +1 (514) 947 2272

Email: [email protected]

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