Aug 18, 2020

AgilVax Progress Triggers $1.2 Million SBIR Fast-Track Grant to Advance Antibody-Based Therapy Drug Genius Staff Writer ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– AgilVax, Inc ., a biopharmaceutical company that discovers and develops targeted antibody-based therapeutics to treat multiple types of cancer, announced today that the company has triggered Phase II funding worth $1.2 million from its Fast Track Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant awarded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The funding will be used to conduct a preclinical efficacy study, manufacturing stability studies and a nonclinical toxicology study for AX09, a virus-like-particle (VLP) therapeutic vaccine. AgilVax successfully achieved its goals from the earlier phases allowing the final portion of the grant to be awarded. AgilVax has three development programs targeting xCT, a cystine-glutamate antiporter: (1) an antibody-drug conjugate (xCT-mAb-ADC), (2), a conjugated radiopharmaceutical and (3) AX09. Oxidative stress leads to enhanced induction of xCT, which regulates cysteine intake, stimulates the conversion of cysteine and subsequent glutathione (GSH) synthesis. xCT expression is low in normal cells but elevated in numerous cancer types corresponding to increases in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Numerous cancer types are highly resistant to traditional therapies due to oxidative stress induced by cancer cell metabolism. “We are delighted to receive this grant award from the National Cancer Institute to advance the development of our antibody-based therapeutic program,” said Joseph Patti, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Agilvax and the Principal Investigator of the award. “Targeting redox-sensitive pathways and a protein that is upregulated in tumors that possess NFR2/KEAP1 or KRAS mutations, offers great promise for cancer therapy and AgilVax is poised to establish a new class of treatment for tough to treat cancers.” About AgilVax AgilVax discovers and develops antibody-based therapeutics for the treatment of various cancers targeting xCT (SLC7A11), a cystine-glutamate antiporter. xCT is over expressed on many different tumor types including breast, colorectal, lung, pancreatic, and hepatocellular cancers. The Company has headquarters in Albuquerque, New Mexico and labs at JLABS @ TMC in Houston, Texas. Contacts