Batu Biologics, a biotechnology-based pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel therapies, filed a patent application covering a recent finding by the company regarding ability to stimulate innate immune system through products that are coaxed out of white blood cells by stimulation with non-toxic agents.
The company reports that the new immune modulator is capable of inducing production of alpha interferon, a chemical mediator that is clinically utilized in the treatment of cancers and viral infections.
“The mantra of our company is that the immune system is the best tool to fight cancer. In addition to our lead program, the anti-angiogenesis therapeutic vaccine ValloVax, and our innate immunity stimulatory peptide ImmXcyte, licensed from University of California San Diego, this current discovery positions us to further broaden our arsenal in the war on cancer,” said Samuel Wagner, president and CEO of Batu Biologics. “We are currently focusing our resources on addressing FDA questions regarding our ValloVax IND #16296 in order to initiate our lung cancer clinical trial. However, the recent experimental data and filing of the new patent position us to enter into collaborative agreements and file grant applications allowing us to advance this program without dilution to our shareholders.”
The novel immune modulator is based on DNA-peptide fractions produced by specific white blood cells in response to various bacterial threats. Batu Biologics developed a process to replicate the same bacterial threats in the test-tube in order to induce production of interferon alpha and other mediators that the immune system utilizes to protect the body against viruses and cancer. The company believes that the process for producing these therapeutic proteins will allow for more economical manufacture, as well as higher efficacy in comparison to existing recombinant DNA approaches.
“What is appealing about the current invention is its possibility for rapid implementation without need for complicated genetic engineering technology,” said Hong Ma, MD, Ph.D, chief scientific officer of Batu Biologics. “Given the simplicity of producing the immune modulatory, we are eager about collaborating with partners, especially in areas where modern day immune modulators are not available due to cost or patent issues.”