Ab technology, which generates necrotic tissue-targeting mAbs, was licensed from Peregrine.

Stason Pharmaceuticals has negotiated nonexclusive worldwide rights to use Lonza’s GS (glutamine Syntetase) Gene Expression System™. The agreement means Stason and its Stonsa Biopharm partner can use the GS System for the manufacture and commercialization of therapeutic and diagnostic products based on the TNT (Tissue Necrosis Therapy) platform for generating chimeric and fully human TNT antibodies. Stonsa Biopharm is a spin-out established by Stason and Taiwanese firm Standard Chem and Pharm, to commercialize TNT technologies worldwide.

Stason negotiated exclusive development and commercialization rights to Peregrine Pharmaceuticals’ TNT platform in May. The technology is based on the development of recombinant mAbs that target intracellular antigens in necrotic tissues. The deal gives Stason exclusive rights to the TNT technologies in certain Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) countries. Peregrine retained exclusive rights to the platform in the U.S., EU, and other designated territories internationally. Stason will pursue drug development, clinical trial, and commercialization activities in its exclusive APEC territories, and both Stason and Peregrine will have the right to initiate new research activities worldwide.

Stason claims the TNT technology has demonstrated broad-spectrum therapeutic and diagnostic potential in a range of solid tumors. It lead product, Cotara®, is a chimeric TNT mAb conjugated to the Iodine-131 radioisotope, which is currently undergoing Phase I and II evaluation in India and the U.S. for the treatment of gliobastoma multiforme. The product has also been evaluated in a Phase I study in combination with intravenous therapy for advanced colon cancer, and together with radioablation therapy.

Cotara targets necrotic cells residing at the core of solid tumors. It transports and binds the radioactive iodine to the center of the tumor, allowing the radiation to destroy the tumor from the inside out, Peregrine claims. The firm says survival benefits for recurrent glioblastoma multiforme patients receiving Cotara therapy have been demonstrated in clinical trials, which have to date shown a median overall survival of between 38 and 41 weeks in patients with GBM treated using Cotara at first relapse. This compares with an expected 24-week median survival in this patient population

Previous articleXention Spins Out Early Clinical-Stage OAB Program into New Firm Provesica
Next articlePrecision BioSciences Receives $3M in U.S. Gov’t Grants for Meganuclease Platform