MultiCell Technologies & Genisphere Evaluate Targeted Delivery of MCT-485 for Cancer

MultiCell Technologies, Inc. and Genisphere LLC will collaborate on the development of targeted MCT-485 nanoparticle therapeutics for the treatment of liver cancer. 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 worldwide. Hepatocellular carcinoma remains an unmet medical need, and today’s approaches for treatment are of limited efficacy. Current standard-of-care in certain clinical stages of hepatocellular carcinoma is based on trans catheter arterial chemoembolization utilizing suspension of doxorubicin in lipiodol or drug-eluting beads, with or without other approaches. While such approaches have shown an improvement in clinical outlook over symptomatic treatment, novel compounds, drug delivery methods, and treatments are needed to ensure a more durable management of tumor progression, and delay or prevention of tumor relapse. MCT-485, possessing both oncolytic and immune-activating properties, could be superior to doxorubicin, cisplatin, and other currently marketed chemotherapies by providing a more robust activation of immunity, and a more global and longer-lasting anti-tumor effect.

MultiCell and Genisphere will investigate the use of Genisphere’s patented 3DNA Dendrimer nanoparticle drug delivery technology to enable the targeted delivery of MCT-485 to 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) contains a synthetic miRNA with one or more immune-modulating and cytotoxic modes of action when delivered will be developed and tested in animal models of hepatocellular carcinoma.

MultiCell Technologies’ MCT-485 is a noncoding double-stranded micro RNA (miRNA), and the first of a family of prospective cancer therapeutics based on the use of its 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.

Genisphere’s 3DNA Dendrimer nanotechnology enables key advances in the targeted delivery of therapeutics, including greatly improved drug efficacy, reduced toxicity, and can enhance the ability to bridge the blood-brain barrier. 3DNA Dendrimers are made from systematically assembled DNA strands, and offers a robust alternative nanoparticle for delivering therapeutics in a highly efficient targeted strategy. 3DNA Dendrimers are biocompatible, multivalent for both targeting and therapeutic cargo, easily adaptable, biodegradable and stable in circulation.

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, visit www.multicelltech.com. Genisphere LLC is a privately-held biotechnology company providing innovative tools for targeted drug delivery, clinical diagnostics, and life science research based on the company’s patented 3DNA Dendrimer nanoparticle platform. For more information, visit www.genisphere.com.