ADELAIDE, Australia, June 15, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Bionomics Limited (ASX:BNO, OTCQX:BNOEF), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of innovative therapeutics for the treatment of diseases of the central nervous system and cancer, announced today that it filed a patent application covering the use of BNC105 in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors for the treatment of cancer. This new patent is based on important preclinical findings regarding the synergistic effects in preclinical models of a combination of the company’s proprietary novel oncology compound BNC105 and antibodies against known immuno-oncology targets.
“We are very happy to announce the results of these preclinical studies which suggest that BNC105 may be effectively combined with immune-oncology approaches for the treatment of solid tumours,” said Deborah Rathjen, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Bionomics. “We have filed an additional patent application in order to further strengthen the intellectual property surrounding BNC105 and enhance both its development and licensing potential. BNC105 has demonstrated that it can be safely combined across a number of treatment modalities and solid tumour types”.
In these preclinical studies animals with MC38 colorectal tumours had 40% inhibition of tumour growth when treated with BNC105 as a monotherapy and 74% inhibition in tumour growth when treated with an antibody targeting PD1. Animals treated with the combination of BNC105 + anti-PD1 therapy experienced greater benefit with 97% inhibition in tumour growth.
In addition animals with CT26 colorectal tumours had 27% inhibition of tumour growth when treated with BNC105 as a monotherapy and 14% inhibition in tumour growth when treated with an antibody targeting CTLA4. Animals treated with the combination of BNC105 + anti-CTLA4 therapy experienced greater benefit with 70% inhibition in tumour growth.
Bionomics aims to present these data at the Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics conference in November this year.
About Immune Checkpoints
Immune checkpoints are “immunological brakes” used by healthy cells to avoid over-activation of the immune system. Tumour cells often take advantage of these checkpoints to escape detection by the immune system. CTLA-4 and PD-1 are checkpoints that have been studied as targets for cancer therapy. Inhibiting a checkpoint (ie, “releasing the brakes”) on the immune system may enhance the ability of the immune system to attack and kill tumours. This class of therapy has shown significant success in recent clinical trials with several of such drugs gaining approval in a number of cancer settings.
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About Bionomics Limited
Bionomics (ASX: BNO) is biopharmaceutical company which discovers and develops innovative therapeutics for cancer and diseases of the central nervous system. Bionomics has small molecule product development programs in the areas of cancer, anxiety, memory loss and pain. Its oncology approach includes cancer stem cell therapeutics.
Bionomics’ discovery and development activities are driven by its four proprietary technology platforms: MultiCore®, a diversity orientated chemistry platform for the discovery of small molecule drugs; ionX® , a set of novel technologies for the identification of drugs targeting ion channels for diseases of the central nervous system; Angene®, a drug discovery platform which incorporates a variety of genomics tools to identify and validate novel angiogenesis targets (involved in the formation of new blood vessels); and CSC Rx Discovery, which identifies antibody and small molecule therapeutics that inhibit the growth of cancer stem cells. These platforms drive Bionomics’ pipeline and underpin its established business strategy of securing partners for its key compounds. Bionomics partners include Merck & Co.
Factors Affecting Future Performance
This announcement contains “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the United States’ Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements contained in this presentation that relate to prospective events or developments, including, without limitation, statements made regarding Bionomics’ development candidates BNC105, BNC210, BNC101 and BNC420, our acquisitions of Eclipse Therapeutics and Prestwick Chemicals and ability to develop products from their platforms, its licensing deals with Merck & Co, drug discovery programs and pending patent applications are deemed to be forward-looking statements. Words such as “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects,” “projects,” “forecasts,” “will” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.
There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements, including risks related to our available funds or existing funding arrangements, a downturn in our customers’ markets, our failure to introduce new products or technologies in a timely manner, regulatory changes, risks related to our international operations, our inability to integrate acquired businesses and technologies into our existing business and to our competitive advantages, as well as other factors. Results of studies performed on competitors products may vary from those reported when tested in different settings.
Subject to the requirements of any applicable legislation or the listing rules of any stock exchange on which our securities are quoted, we disclaim any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this presentation.
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SOURCE Bionomics Limited
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