Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 21, 2022) - Defence Therapeutics Inc. (CSE: DTC) (FSE: DTC) (OTC Pink: DTCFF) ("Defence" or the "Company"), a Canadian biopharmaceutical company specialized in the development of immune-oncology vaccines and drug delivery technologies, is pleased to report that Defence's novel vaccine candidate triggers a potent anti-tumoral response capable of curing animals with pre-established lymphoma.
Antigen presentation is a crucial step for the initiation of an immune response against a given cancer cell, foreign agent or pathogen. For cancer, this entails priming cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), a form of a white blood cell educated to attack a specific target on cancer cell surfaces. Defence's objective is to develop a novel therapeutic and an unlimited supply of antigen presenting cells capable of eliciting potent anti-cancer responses while limiting all manufacturing-associated pitfalls.
By reprogramming innate Mesenchymal Stem Cells ("MSCs") to behave as antigen presenting cells, the Defence team was able to cure animals with pre-established lymphoma. Defence's novel breakthrough vaccine presents itself an "off-the-shelf Universal vaccine" (e.g. allogeneic to the recipient), the therapeutic effect observed with this vaccination strategy synergised with the immune-checkpoint blocker anti-PD-1. The results are that all animals survived the therapy, the great majority, 80%, of these animals rejected the tumor and remain tumor free. "The AccumTM technology platform continues to impress with its versatility and continued positive therapeutic results. With this vaccine technology and the AccumTM in hand, Defence can design and create a multitude of vaccine products that can target several solid and liquid cancer indications given further research and development," says Mr. Sebastien Plouffe, the CEO of Defence Therapeutics.
Studies are currently ongoing to re-challenge cured animals with the same tumor as a means to demonstrate long-lasting anti-tumoral memory response. In parallel, Defence is actively working on its CMC protocol to manufacture its A1-MSC "ARM" vaccine in preparation of a Phase I trial in patients with melanoma.
Additional information
The preclinical studies have been completed at Dr. Moutih Rafei's lab at the Universite de Montreal. Dr. Rafei is Defence vice-president research and development, and he has led, reviewed and approved the scientific disclosure contained in this press release. Dr. Rafei has a PhD in experimental medicine from McGill University and received his postdoctoral training at the Universite de Montreal. He is an immune-oncologist who specializes in the fields of T-cell development, stem cell biology, cancer immunotherapy and autoimmune diseases.
About Defence:
Defence Therapeutics is a publicly-traded biotechnology company working on engineering the next generation vaccines and ADC products using its proprietary platform. The core of Defence Therapeutics platform is the ACCUMTM technology, which enables precision delivery of vaccine antigens or ADCs in their intact form to target cells. As a result, increased efficacy and potency can be reached against catastrophic illness such as cancer and infectious diseases.
For further information:
Sebastien Plouffe, President, CEO and Director
P: (514) 947-2272
Splouffe@defencetherapeutics.com
www.defencetherapeutics.com
Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information
This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include regulatory actions, market prices, and continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.
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