LIDDS has an ongoing preclinical development program based on a clinical stage TLR9 agonist. The objective is to use a NanoZolid® formulation with the TLR9 agonist as an intratumoral immunotherapy in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment in a Phase I study. The NanoZolid® technology is designed to provide sustained intratumoral release and to minimize the need for repeated injections.
A recent Freedom To Operate analysis shows no obstacles for LIDDS to develop a proprietary NanoZolid® formulation with the specific TLR9 agonist for intratumoral immunotherapy. LIDDS can thereby plan for a Phase I study without needing a collaboration agreement with the company behind the TLR9 agonist's original development.
– I am very happy to conclude that LIDDS can develop our own proprietary product for intratumoral injection. LIDDS plan is to license out the NZ-TLR9 product after Phase I study results are available. The NanoZolid® technology addresses key issues in developing TLR agonists as repeated intratumoral injections are needed using standard formulations. The first human study is planned to commence in 2020, says Monica Wallter, CEO of LIDDS.
Toll-like receptors have been studied for many years and the emerging clinical data suggests that their time has come as important anti-cancer agents when used in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors.
-There is significant commercial potential in this area of research and drug development and the market for TLR agonists is expected to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars over the coming years, says Monica Wallter.
The most relevant target cancers for the TLR9 project are head and neck cancer, prostate cancer, melanomas and lymphomas. These cancers are diagnosed in more than 2 million patients each year.
About TLR agonists:
Toll-like receptors (TLR) are key targets for the pharmaceutical industry in the fight against cancer. TLRs are expressed on various immune cells, including dendritic cells, and they initiate the body's immune response. TLR activation can lead to an immunologically active or inflamed tumor environment which then recruits the cytotoxic T-cells necessary for an anti-tumor response in immunotherapy. Preclinical studies have shown that activation of TLR pathways can lead to potent immunological effects that generate anti-tumor immunity and shrink tumors. Most importantly, these effects can act in synergy with immune checkpoint inhibitors.
For more information, please contact:
Monica Wallter, CEO, +46 (0)737 07 09 22, monica.wallter@liddspharma.com
LIDDS is required to disclose the information in this press release under the European Union's Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted through the agency of the aforementioned contact person for publication on 2 May 2019 at 08.40 CET.
LIDDS AB (publ) is a Swedish-based pharmaceutical company with a unique drug delivery technology: NanoZolid®. NanoZolid is clinically validated drug development technology and superior in its ability to provide a controlled and sustained release of active drug substances for up to six months. LIDDS has licensing agreements where NanoZolid is combined with antiandrogens and in-house development projects in clinical and preclinical phase for cytostatics and immunoactive agents. LIDDS shares (LIDDS) are listed on Nasdaq First North. Redeye AB, Certifiedadviser@redeye.se, +46 (0)8 121 576 90, is a certified adviser to LIDDS. For more information, please visit liddspharma.com
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Source: LIDDS AB via Globenewswire