Isarna Therapeutics, a leader in transforming growth factor beta (TGF-ß) isoform targeted antisense therapeutics, and Autotelic Inc., a specialist in therapeutic drug monitoring and development, announced an asset sale and purchase agreement for trabedersen, Isarna’s TGF-ß2 antisense oligonucleotide.

Autotelic acquires full and worldwide rights to develop trabedersen, which had previously reached phase 3 clinical evaluation to treat recurrent high-grade glioma. No financial details of the agreement have been disclosed.

“Autotelic Inc. has a unique expertise and resources that enables them to effectively advance trabedersen. The agreement, made possible by our partners at Egamid Ltd, recognizes our leadership in TGF-ß and our efforts to bring trabedersen to patients while allowing us remain focused on our new generation of antisense oligonucleotides.”

“Autotelic Inc. has a unique expertise and resources that enables them to effectively advance trabedersen. The agreement, made possible by our partners at Egamid Ltd, recognizes our leadership in TGF-ß and our efforts to bring trabedersen to patients while allowing us remain focused on our new generation of antisense oligonucleotides,” said Dr. Philippe Calais, president and chief executive officer of Isarna Therapeutics.

Autotelic utilises therapeutic drug monitoring to achieve consistent drug levels benefiting both efficacy and toxicity in multiple indications. The company’s leadership has long-standing experience in the development of cancer therapies as part of the team that led the early development of Abraxane, a protein-bound paclitaxel compound approved by the FDA and EMA for the treatment of solid tumors, which was acquired by Celgene in 2010 when it merged with Abraxis BioScience Inc.

Subsequent to Abraxis, the team formed Igdrasol Inc. to develop next generation Abraxane. Igdrasol recently was acquired by NantPharma in a deal that could be worth as much as $1.3 billion.

“Trabedersen is an excellent fit for our therapeutic drug monitoring programme and provides an exciting opportunity to enhance the development of a truly novel treatment. We are looking forward to advancing this promising antisense oligonucleotide further,” commented Dr. Vuong Trieu, chief executive officer of Autotelic.

Trabedersen, developed to target the human TGF-ß2 mRNA, is believed to reverse TGF-ß’s immunosuppressive effects, rendering the tumour visible to a patient’s immune system and resulting in priming and specific activation of the patient’s anti-tumor immune response. Trabedersen was developed by Isarna’s predecessor company at the Biopark in Regensburg. Trabedersen has been granted orphan designation for three tumor indications: high grade glioma (US, EU), pancreatic cancer (US, EU) and malignant melanoma (US).