Theolytics, a UK-based biotechnology company, has secured a £2m ($2.6m) grant from Innovate UK to propel its Phase I clinical trial of THEO-260, a novel therapy for advanced-stage platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. This funding injection complements the £19m previously raised from investors, including M Ventures and Oxford Science Enterprises, and underscores the potential of THEO-260 in addressing a critical unmet need in ovarian cancer treatment.
The upcoming multi-center, open-label trial will evaluate the safety, tolerability, and optimal Phase II dosage of THEO-260. The study will also investigate biomarkers to elucidate and validate the drug's unique mechanism of action, which involves selectively destroying cancer cells and immune-suppressive stromal cells while simultaneously stimulating T cell activation.
THEO-260: A Novel Oncolytic Adenovirus for Ovarian Cancer
THEO-260 is an oncolytic adenovirus therapy specifically designed to target and destroy ovarian cancer cells. Preclinical studies, including those using patient-derived ovarian cancer samples, have shown promising results, suggesting the drug's potential to effectively combat the disease. The therapy's mechanism involves not only direct cancer cell lysis but also modulation of the tumor microenvironment to enhance immune responses.
Addressing Unmet Needs in Ovarian Cancer Treatment
Ovarian cancer remains a significant challenge, with limited treatment options available for patients with advanced-stage, platinum-resistant disease. Current therapies often fail to provide durable responses, and new approaches are urgently needed to improve patient outcomes. THEO-260 represents a novel immunotherapeutic strategy that could potentially overcome these limitations by directly targeting cancer cells and stimulating the immune system to fight the tumor.
Biomarker Study to Enhance Understanding of THEO-260's Mechanism
In conjunction with the Phase I trial, Theolytics will conduct a biomarker study to gain deeper insights into THEO-260's mechanism of action. This research aims to identify specific biomarkers that correlate with treatment response, which could help optimize patient selection and further refine the drug's development. Understanding how THEO-260 interacts with the tumor microenvironment and the immune system is crucial for maximizing its therapeutic potential.
Expert Perspectives
"We are excited to be edging closer to providing a treatment option for women with ovarian cancer," said Margaret Duffy, Theolytics co-founder and chief scientific officer. "This is a devastating disease for which current treatment options are limited. We are grateful for the support of Innovate UK in partnering with us to help achieve our aim to transform the lives of cancer patients."
Miriam Bazan Peregrino, Theolytics translational development vice-president, added, "This competitive award from Innovate UK in the category of 'Transforming Cancer Therapeutics' reflects the novelty of our research, as well as our ability to deliver operational excellence as we move forward to the clinic. This will allow us to precisely demonstrate the mechanism of action of THEO-260, which we anticipate will provide key information to enhance further development of this immunotherapeutic oncolytic virus and our wider platform."
