Introgen Therapeutics Inc. has obtained a worldwide, exclusive licence to a family of patent applications covering methods and compositions of use for INGN 241 (mda-7/IL-24) with several types of currently available therapies including conventional chemotherapies, vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors such as Avastin (Bevacizumab), non- steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which include COX-2 inhibitors such as Celebrex, (celecoxib) and proteasome inhibitors, which can increase therapeutic functionality, such as Velcade (Bortezemib).
Combining both chemotherapies and the newer cancer targeted therapies with gene therapies such as INGN 241 or Advexin provides an opportunity to specifically target cancer cells and destroy them. The patent applications were licensed to Introgen from The University of Texas System MD Anderson Cancer Centre.
INGN 241 utilizes the mda-7/IL-24 tumour suppressor and targets several key pathways that impact the development, growth and metastasis of cancer cells. INGN 241 has been shown to have potent anti-angiogenic activity and works by inhibiting the production of a key blood vessel growth protein termed vascular endothelial growth factor.
Introgen has conducted preclinical studies using INGN 241 as a monotherapy and in combination with these and other agents. For example, in a study with Avastin, it was demonstrated that the combination of INGN 241 and Avastin is very effective and blocks tumour angiogenesis - the formation of new blood vessels within a tumour, which is essential to support tumour growth beyond a minimum size. This study, accepted for publication, resulted in complete cure of all animals bearing lung tumours; whereas control treated animals rapidly succumbed to their cancer.
INGN 241 is being tested in a phase 2 clinical trial for patients suffering from advanced melanoma and in a phase 3 clinical trial in combination with radiation therapy in solid tumours. The mda-7 tumour suppressor is the active component of INGN 241 and was discovered in the laboratory of Dr. Paul B. Fisher, professor of clinical pathology at Columbia University. Introgen holds an exclusive worldwide sublicense to the Columbia University rights for all gene therapy applications from GlaxoSmithKline.