A presentation delivered to the International Society for Cell and Gene Therapy’s annual meeting is being greeted with enthusiasm by mesothelioma physicians and researchers. An Israeli immunotherapy company revealed that their clinical-stage macrophage reprogramming drug Allocetra delivered up to 100% survival in laboratory animals.
Preclinical Mesothelioma Mice Study Conducted
According to a poster presentation delivered by Enlivex Therapeutics, Allocetra targets “pro-tumor” Tumor Associated Macrophages (TAMs) which form a physical layer on top of mesothelioma’s solid tumors for reprogramming. TAMs induce immunosuppression within the tumors’ microenvironment and promotes tumor growth and metastasis. Allocetra’s reprogramming of these macrophages is meant to rebalance the macrophage population towards anti-tumor macrophages.
The company’s researchers tested Allocetra in mice in a preclinical mesothelioma study. Five groups of the animals were implanted with the deadly cancer’s cells, with each group offered a different treatment beginning on the 12th day after implantation. While only 1 of 16 untreated mice was alive at day 42, 25% were alive at that same point if treated with immune checkpoint inhibitor anti-CTLA4 alone. Similar results came from using Allocetra alone, with a 28.5% survival rate and a delayed cancer growth rate.
Combination Therapy Achieves Remarkable Results in Mesothelioma Study
The most significant difference seen in the use of Allocetra came when the mesothelioma-afflicted mice were dosed with a combination of Allocetra and the immune checkpoint inhibitor. At 42 days after treatment, 100% of the animals had survived and their cancer had disappeared. Mice treated with a lower dose of Allocetra had slightly lower but still significant survival and complete remission rates, with 67% remission in the low dose group compared to 100% for the higher dose group.
Researchers See Reprogramming as Essential Tool in Mesothelioma Treatment
Speaking of the results seen in the preclinical study, Prof. Dror Mevorach, Chief Scientific Officer of Enlivex, said, “This reproducible and statistically significant data strongly support Allocetra’s proposed therapeutic mechanism of action of reprogramming macrophages in solid tumors. We believe that, in contrast to CAR-T, CAR-NK and other anti-cancer cell therapies directed at tumor antigens, AllocetraTM restores macrophage homeostasis in the tumor environment via reprogramming of pro-tumor macrophages. This may ultimately allow immune checkpoint inhibitors to be exponentially more effective.”
Researchers are getting closer to finding more effective treatments for malignant mesothelioma every day. For information on accessing treatment and other resources, contact the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net today at 1-800-692-8608.
