The nonprofits Ludwig Cancer Research (Ludwig) and the Cancer Research Institute (CRI) announced today an agreement with VentiRx Pharmaceuticals Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, to conduct a clinical trial with motolimod (VTX-2337) combined with other immunotherapy agents available to Ludwig and CRI through other industry partnerships. VentiRx will provide motolimod, the company\u2019s lead immuno-oncology agent, for the study, which will be conducted by Ludwig and CRI through their jointly coordinated CVC Trials Network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLudwig\u2019s mission is to conduct basic, applied and clinical research to support the swift development of game-changing cancer therapies,\u201d said Jonathan Skipper, PhD Ludwig\u2019s executive director of technology development. \u201cMotolimod holds considerable promise as a cancer drug, particularly as a component of combination immunotherapies. We look forward to working with VentiRx to assess its potential in clinical trials, as part of our effort to bring powerful new immunotherapies as quickly as possible to cancer patients.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Immuno-oncology, as the name implies, recruits the immune system into the battle against cancer, either by boosting its existing but latent anti-tumor responses or honing its recognition of malignant cells. Several recent studies have shown that such therapies, especially when used in combination, can induce potent and durable control of advanced cancers, in some cases resulting in lasting remissions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOur collaboration with VentiRx is part of a broader programmatic effort to partner with top biotech and pharmaceutical companies to develop novel combinations of treatments that may work better together than each would alone,\u201d said Adam Kolom, managing director of CRI\u2019s venture fund. \u201cBy making it possible for leading academic oncologists to bring together the most promising and mechanistically distinct drugs from different companies, we are able to deliver powerful new treatments to cancer patients today while helping the field unlock immunotherapy\u2019s full potential more quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
VTX-2337 specifically binds and activates toll-like receptor-8 (TLR-8). TLR8 is found inside dendritic cells, which are patrolling immune cells that instigate, direct and fuel the immune response against infectious agents and malignant cells. When activated by VTX-2337, TLR-8 prompts dendritic cells within tumors to secrete factors that fuel a cascade of immune responses. This draws the innate immune system\u2019s natural killer (NK) cells into the fray, promotes the antibody-mediated destruction of malignant cells and, ultimately, supports the activation of T cells that specifically target the cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are very excited to collaborate with Ludwig and CRI and benefit from their significant expertise in enabling this important clinical trial,\u201d said Robert Hershberg, MD, PhD, President and CEO at VentiRx. \u201cPrevious studies have shown that when motolimod (VTX-2337) is given in combination with certain chemotherapies, it enhances immune responses within the tumor microenvironment. We are confident that, as a potent activator of the innate immune response, motolimod will prove even more effective as a component of combination immunotherapy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
About VentiRx<\/strong> About Ludwig Cancer Research<\/strong> About the Cancer Research Institute<\/strong> # # #<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The nonprofits announced an agreement with VentiRx Pharmaceuticals Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, to conduct a clinical trial with motolimod (VTX-2337) combined with other immunotherapy agents through other industry partnerships.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":3998,"template":"","tags":[159,160,161,162],"resource_cancer_types":[],"resource_patient_age":[],"resource_cancer_stage":[],"resource_treatment_type":[],"resource_treatment_status":[],"class_list":["post-11215","cri_news","type-cri_news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-immunotherapy-agents","tag-ludwig-cancer-research","tag-motolimod","tag-ventirx-pharmaceuticals-inc"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
VentiRx Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company committed to the development and commercialization of novel Toll-like receptor 8 (TLR8) immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer, respiratory and inflammatory diseases. The company\u2019s lead product candidate is motolimod (VTX-2337), a small molecule TLR8 agonist for the treatment of cancer. VentiRx is a privately held organization based in Seattle, Washington. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ludwig Cancer Research is an international collaborative network of acclaimed scientists with a 40-year legacy of pioneering cancer discoveries. Ludwig combines basic research with the ability to translate its discoveries and conduct clinical trials to accelerate the development of new cancer diagnostics and therapies. Since 1971, Ludwig has invested more than $2.5 billion in life-changing cancer research through the not-for-profit Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research and the six U.S.-based Ludwig Centers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Cancer Research Institute (CRI), established in 1953, is the world\u2019s leading nonprofit organization dedicated exclusively to transforming cancer patient care by advancing scientific efforts to develop new and effective immune system-based strategies to prevent, diagnose, treat, and eventually cure all cancers. Guided by a world-renowned Scientific Advisory Council that includes three Nobel laureates and 26 members of the National Academy of Sciences, CRI has invested $336 million in support of research conducted by immunologists and tumor immunologists at the world\u2019s leading medical centers and universities, and has contributed to many of the key scientific advances that demonstrate the potential for immunotherapy to change the face of cancer treatment. To learn more, go to www.cancerresearch.org<\/p>\n\n\n\n