Oncotelic to Present at 20th Annual International Drug Discovery Congress

Oncotelic Therapeutics, Inc., headquartered in Agoura Hills, California, announced that its CEO, Dr. Vuong Trieu, will present at the 20th Annual Congress of International Drug Discovery Science & Technology (IDDST) in Budapest, Hungary, from June 17-19, 2024. Dr. Trieu will discuss the potential application of TGFB2 therapeutics for treating colorectal cancer (CRC), glioblastoma (GBM), and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

The presentation highlights OT-101, an antisense therapy targeting TGFB2, which is currently in phase 3 clinical trials for pancreatic cancer and glioblastoma. Initial reports have indicated significant clinical activity of OT-101 in these cancer types, as well as in melanoma. The research extends to explore OT-101's applicability in colorectal cancer through an analysis of CRC patients treated with the drug during its clinical trials.

A comprehensive study was conducted, involving 62 patients: 38 with pancreatic cancer, 19 with melanoma, and 5 with colorectal cancer. The results showed that patients treated with OT-101 exhibited improved progression-free survival (PFS), particularly those with higher drug exposure as indicated by AUClast metrics. The colorectal cancer patients in the study had previously undergone multiple lines of therapy, reflecting shorter overall survival times. Despite this, higher AUClast values were associated with a doubling of PFS to 84 days from 40 days.

Additionally, a bioinformatics analysis was performed on a sample of 4,259 colorectal adenocarcinoma patients from the cbioportal database. The study found that low expression levels of TGFB2 and TGFM6 genes correlated with improved overall survival (OS). The combined suppression of these genes proved to be more effective than targeting either gene alone, with TGFB2 identified as the more significant factor. This gene combination significantly increased median survival for patients with the Mesenchymal Consensus Molecular Subtype (CMS) of colorectal cancer from 42 months to 132 months.

Dr. Vuong Trieu commented on the findings, expressing satisfaction in uncovering the critical role of TGFB2 and TGFM6 in cancer. He also praised the contributions from local high school interns, facilitated by the Brush&Key Foundation for Young Artists, for their high-quality research outputs.

Oncotelic, originally formed as OXiGENE, Inc. in 1988 and later renamed, has a strong focus on oncology drug development, particularly for rare pediatric cancers. Their key therapeutic candidate, OT-101, has received rare pediatric designation for Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG). The company has also been involved in developing treatments for melanoma and Acute Myeloid Leukemia through partnerships and acquisitions, including the AI-driven PointR Data Inc. and AL-101 for intranasal delivery of apomorphine, intended for Parkinson’s Disease and other disorders.

While Oncotelic continues to advance its clinical trials and drug development efforts, the company also acknowledges the inherent risks and uncertainties in these ventures. These include potential safety or efficacy issues, regulatory hurdles, and market competition, all of which could impact the success of their therapeutic candidates.

In summary, Oncotelic Therapeutics is making significant strides in cancer treatment research, with promising developments in using OT-101 for colorectal cancer and other malignancies. The upcoming presentation by Dr. Vuong Trieu at the IDDST Congress will provide deeper insights into these advancements.