SAN DIEGO, Aug. 6, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- MabVax Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: MBVX), a clinical stage oncology drug development company, and The Rockefeller University's Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Immunology have entered into a research collaboration agreement to explore the mechanism of action of constant region (Fc) variants of the HuMab 5B1 in the role of tumor clearance. The objective is to optimize Fc receptor mediated antibody function.
The work will be conducted in the Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Immunology at The Rockefeller University, which is headed by Jeffery Ravetch, M.D., Ph.D. Dr. Ravetch is a leading researcher who unraveled the importance of the antibody constant region (Fc) and described the mechanisms of antibody-mediated effector responses. The Fc portion of an antibody plays a critical functional role by binding to various cellular receptors as well as complement proteins, and it is responsible for recruiting other immune system cells to attack the tumor cell resulting in destruction of the targeted cell.
The Company recently announced that it will file investigational new drug (IND) applications with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for a HuMab 5B1-based therapeutic product and a next generation PET imaging agent later this year. The Company anticipates initiating Phase I trials in the first quarter of 2016.
David Hansen, President and CEO of MabVax Therapeutics, explained, "Because we are working on a very difficult to treat disease, pancreatic cancer, as our first therapeutic indication, the Company has been initiating research and development programs on next-generation HuMab 5B1-based therapeutic products. These programs are geared toward increasing the potency as well as the antibody-mediated effect of the current product. While we believe that the current HuMab 5b1 product will demonstrate effectiveness in our early studies, the longer term strategy is to bring more potent products to the market in the next few years."
Because the HuMab 5B1 antibody is fully human and recovered from patients undergoing cancer vaccine treatment at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, the Company believes that these antibodies reduce the likelihood of unwanted immunogenicity and cross reactivity. The results from preclinical studies continue to build the body of evidence that makes the HuMab 5B1 product a valuable asset. The Company believes that its unique dual-product development approach of having both a therapeutic and diagnostic application is applicable to other cancers utilizing our HuMab 5B1 antibody as well as with follow-on antibodies already under development in our preclinical pipeline.
About MabVax:
MabVax Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. is a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on the development of vaccine and antibody based products to address unmet medical needs in the treatment of cancer. MabVax has discovered a pipeline of human monoclonal antibody products based on the protective immune responses generated by patients who have been immunized against targeted cancers with the Company's proprietary vaccines. MabVax also has the exclusive license to the therapeutic vaccines from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. MabVax has two cancer vaccines targeting recurrent sarcoma and ovarian cancer in proof of concept Phase II multi-center clinical trials, and a vaccine targeting neuroblastoma that will be ready for Phase II clinical trial later this year. Additional information about the Company is available at www.mabvax.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" regarding matters that are not historical facts, including statements relating to the Company's development pipeline. We have no assurance that all of the product development pipeline will be fully developed by the Company. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Words such as "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "intends," "will," "potential," "hope" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations of the Company and involve assumptions that may never materialize or may prove to be incorrect. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of various risks and uncertainties. Detailed information regarding factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by statements in this press release relating to the Company may be found in the Company's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the factors described in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in its annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, as amended and supplemented from time to time and the Company's Quarter Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings submitted by the Company to the SEC, copies of which may be obtained from the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The parties do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this press release.
Investor Contact:
Jody Cain
Senior Vice President
LHA
310-691-7100
jcain@LHAI.com
Robert B. Prag, President
The Del Mar Consulting Group, Inc.
858-794-9500
bprag@delmarconsulting.com
or
Scott Wilfong, President
Alex Partners, LLC
425-242-0891
scott@alexpartnersllc.com
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SOURCE MabVax Therapeutics Holdings, Inc.
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