New York City, New York Nov 2, 2023 (Issuewire.com) - Manhattan BioSolutions, Inc. ("Manhattan Bio"), an emerging biotechnology company developing new classes of precision biologics for the treatment of advanced cancers, today announced a discovery collaboration agreement with the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), and Binghamton University. The collaboration will utilize novel monoclonal antibodies developed by NCI as well as novel tumor-cleavable linker-payload technology invented at Binghamton University to generate and validate novel antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for the treatment of pediatric Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS).

ADCs harness the targeting ability of antibodies to selectively deliver drugs directly to cancer cells or to the tumor microenvironment while sparing healthy tissues. RMS is the most common pediatric sarcoma; however, the survival for patients with relapsed and metastatic disease remains dismal. Under the agreement, Manhattan Bio, NCI and Binghamton University will jointly conduct preclinical experiments to develop ADC targeting an oncogenic cell surface receptor that is highly overexpressed in RMS as well as in other solid tumors.

The lead investigator is Javed Khan, MD, Senior Investigator and Deputy Chief of the Genetics Branch at the NCI Center for Cancer Research. The antibodies discovered by the team of Dr. Javed Khan will be conjugated with proprietary protease-cleavable topoisomerase 1 inhibitor warheads, invented by Dr. Nathan Tumey's laboratory at Binghamton University. The resulting ADCs will be evaluated in preclinical models of RMS. This discovery collaboration builds on an earlier commercial evaluation license agreement between Manhattan Bio and the NCI.

"We are extremely pleased to partner with these prominent research institutions to accelerate the development of transformative targeted therapies for children with cancer," said Dr. Borys Shor, Chief Executive Officer of Manhattan Bio. "Our industry expertise in ADC development complements Dr. Khan's world-class leadership in pediatric oncology research, which enables us to advance the pipeline and bring new hope to young patients battling RMS."

About Manhattan BioSolutions

Manhattan BioSolutions, Inc. is a privately held biotechnology company focused on the development of biologic immunotherapies targeting host defense pathways for the treatment of advanced cancers. The company advances two technology platforms for drug discovery: RNA-degrader proteins, and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) - through collaborations with leading academic institutions. Manhattan Bio has established partnerships with the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Stony Brook University, The University at Buffalo, Binghamton University, INSERM, EVQLV and has been awarded grants by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology (CSIT), the New York State Center For Biotechnology and the University at Buffalo Center for Advanced Technology in Big Data and Health Sciences (UBCAT). Learn more at manhattanbiosolutions.com and follow Manhattan BioSolutions on LinkedIn or Twitter.

Contact for investor inquiries:

Jordana Lovett, PhD
Director of Investor Relations
(857) 600-1021
ir@manhattanbiosolutions.com