Avacta Group, a life sciences company focused on the development of targeted oncology drugs and diagnostics, has announced that the first patient in the fifth cohort of the first-in-human phase Ia trial of AVA6000 has been dosed. The escalation to this level of dosing falls outside of the original clinical trial protocol, and approval by the Medical and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency was required. The continued dose escalation is intended to identify a maximum tolerated dose (MTD) necessary for optimal dosing levels in phase 1b and future studies.
The Safety Data Monitoring Committee (SDMC) comprised of clinicians recruiting patients has recommended that the phase Ia dose escalation clinical trial continues after the favorable safety profile of AVA6000 in the study so far.
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“We are very much encouraged by the positive safety and tolerability data emerging from the dose escalation phase 1a study of AVA6000. Following the recommendation from the SDMC, and approval by the MHRA, we are pleased to commence dosing in the fifth patient cohort of this trial. The recent confirmation of release of active chemotherapy in the tumour tissue and the safety data being generated in the ALS-6000-101 study are providing detailed insights into the pre|CISION™ platform which add significant value to the technology and confirm the tumour targeting potential of the pre|CISION™ platform,” said Dr Alastair Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Avacta Group.
The AVA6000 drug candidate is based on the company’s proprietary pre|CISION™ platform, which produces an inactive form of a cytotoxic drug that is only triggered to release the active drug when inside the tumour cells, reducing the potential for the drug to damage healthy cells.
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The company suggests that the pre|CISION™ platform has the potential to deliver a checkpoint inhibitor, such as a PD-L1 inhibitor or an anti-CTLA-4 antibody, selectively to the tumour micro-environment to improve their efficacy and reduce the side effects associated with systemic administration.
According to the company, the pre|CISION™ platform represents a significant development in cancer treatments and diagnostics. The system utilizes a unique method of drug delivery that allows for an increased number of patients to benefit from earlier-stage cancer treatments. By providing a more targeted delivery of drug treatments via pre|CISION™ to tumour cells, the platform is designed to reduce damage to patients’ healthy cells, with the potential to significantly reduce side effects.
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Avacta recently announced a collaboration with Cambridge-based biotech firm Cytiva to develop and manufacture an Affimer-based SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen test. The Affimer-based test is a point-of-care rapid diagnostic test that provides results within minutes.
Avacta has embraced collaboration with numerous academic research institutions and hospitals to help advance the development of its products. The company is headquartered in Wetherby, UK, and has operations in the US, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.
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