LIXTE to Partner with Roche and Netherlands Cancer Institute in Colon Cancer Trial

18 June 2024

LIXTE Biotechnology Holdings, Inc. has announced a new clinical trial in collaboration with Roche and the Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI). This trial aims to explore the efficacy of LIXTE’s flagship compound, LB-100, in treating metastatic colon cancer that is typically unresponsive to immune therapy. The trial, registered under NCT06012734 at clinicaltrials.gov, will combine LB-100 and Roche’s PD-L1 inhibitor, atezolizumab, with Roche also providing financial support for the venture.

Dr. Neeltje Steeghs, a medical oncologist at NKI, oversees the trial and emphasizes its potential impact. She points out that while only around 15% of colon cancers are responsive to immunotherapy, classified as MSI High cancers, a significant 85% fall into the MSI Low category where current immunotherapy methods show no effectiveness. The goal of the trial is to determine if LB-100 can sensitize these MSI Low tumors, potentially making them responsive to immunotherapy and thereby offering a new treatment option for a large patient group.

LIXTE’s CEO, Bas van der Baan, notes that the continued interest and financial backing from major pharmaceutical companies highlight the scientific validity and potential of LB-100. This trial is the second recent collaboration involving LB-100 and immunotherapy, following a clinical trial funded by GSK for treating clear cell ovarian cancer.

NKI is recognized globally as a leading comprehensive cancer center, and René Bernards, a prominent figure in molecular carcinogenesis and a senior staff scientist at NKI, is on LIXTE’s Board of Directors. Recent preclinical data published in EMBO Reports indicate that LB-100 can convert immunologically "cold" tumors into "hot" ones, potentially enhancing their response to immunotherapy. This finding aligns with existing scientific and clinical evidence suggesting strong synergy between LB-100 and checkpoint immunotherapy.

LIXTE Biotechnology Holdings, Inc. is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing cancer treatments. Their leading clinical compound, LB-100, functions as a PP2A inhibitor and has shown to be well-tolerated in cancer patients at doses that demonstrate anti-cancer activity. Extensive preclinical data suggest that LB-100 can significantly boost the effectiveness of both chemotherapies and immunotherapies, improving patient outcomes.

LB-100 represents a pioneering effort in a novel field of cancer biology known as activation lethality, offering a new treatment paradigm. LIXTE’s approach is backed by a comprehensive patent portfolio, and proof-of-concept clinical trials for colon, small cell lung, and sarcoma cancers are currently underway.

How to obtain the latest research advancements in the field of biopharmaceuticals?

In the Synapse database, you can keep abreast of the latest research and development advances in drugs, targets, indications, organizations, etc., anywhere and anytime, on a daily or weekly basis. Click on the image below to embark on a brand new journey of drug discovery!