MultiCell Technologies Files Patent Application to Achieve Targeted Tumor Cell Death

MultiCell Technologies, Inc. recently announced the filing of a US patent application concerning methods and formulations to achieve targeted tumor cell death. MCT-485 is a noncoding double stranded micro RNA (miRNA), which has demonstrated oncolytic and immune-stimulating activity in in vitro models of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common form of primary liver cancer, and is a leading cause of cancer death. Hepatocellular carcinoma remains an unmet medical need, and today’s approaches for treatment are of limited efficacy. A potential role for noncoding double stranded miRNAs, such as MCT-485 in the control of tumors has recently emerged in a variety of models with recognition of their ability to stimulate an immune response or directly affect cell death.

Current standard-of-care in certain clinical stages of hepatocellular carcinoma is based on trans catheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) utilizing suspension of doxorubicin in lipiodol or drug eluting beads, with or without other approaches. While such approaches have shown an improvement of the clinical outlook over symptomatic treatment, novel compounds and treatments are needed to ensure a more durable management of tumor and delay or prevention of tumor relapse. Compounds, such as MCT-485 possessing both oncolytic and immune activating properties, could be superior to doxorubicin, cisplatin, and other chemotherapies employed in TACE, as robust activation of immunity in the context of antigen release associated with cell death could have a more global and longer lasting anti-tumor effect.

The key need addressed by this invention is directing the powerful biological effect of miRNAs such as MCT-485 toward the tumor and away from normal tissues. Formulations that meet several criteria: (1) are safe enough to allow parenteral administration by infusion (venous, arterial) or topical administration (intra-tumoral); (2) achieve an increased bioavailability within tumor and tumor cells respectively, by virtue of having a ligand for a tumor associated receptor; and, (3) contain a synthetic miRNAs with one or more of immune modulating and cytotoxic modes of action when delivered via this formulation.

MCT-485 is the first of a family of prospective cancer therapeutics based on the use of our patented TLR3 signaling technology. MultiCell owns rights to several issued US and foreign patents and patent applications related to MCT-485. The mechanism of action of MCT-485 is pleiotropic:

• Induction of tumor cell death upon direct exposure, while normal cells are minimally affected.
• Production of TNF-alpha by cancer cells resulting in amplified tumor cell death and a localized immune reaction that has the potential to generalize and curb progression of metastatic cancer.

MultiCell Technologies, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics and discovery tools that address unmet medical needs for the treatment of neurological disorders, hepatic disease, and cancer. For more information about MultiCell Technologies, please visit www.multicelltech.com.