Imugene: Cancer drug trial green lit by US FDA
Imugene Managing Director Leslie Chong on 3AW, 2GB & 6PR on Bulls N' Bears Report
Listen to ASX-listed Imugene Managing Director Leslie Chong talk to Matt Birney on the Bulls N’ Bears Report about Imugene’s “immunotherapy” drug that can laser target cancerous cells in partnership with an already approved drug, potentially setting up a sublime pairing of products in the vanguard of the fight against cancer.
TO LISTEN TO THE IMUGENE AUDIO INTERVIEW - CLICK BELOW
Imugene is a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company developing a range of “immunotherapies” that seek to use a cancer sufferer’s own immune system to fight back against cancer. Whilst the company is developing a portfolio of similar drugs and treatments based on immunotherapies, its “onCarlytics” cancer-fighting drug candidate is in the spotlight right now after the American FDA gave it clearance to be trialled for the first time in humans.
RADIO INTERVIEW - TRANSRIPT
Matt Birney - Welcome to Bulls N' Bears brought to you today by clinical-stage immuno-oncology company, Imugene.
Matt Birney - ASX code: IMU
Matt Birney - I'm Matt Birney and I'm joined now by the Managing Director of Imugene, Leslie Chong.
Matt Birney - Hi Leslie
Leslie Chong - Hi Matt
Matt Birney - Okay so Imugene is a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company developing a range of “immunotherapies” that seek to use a cancer sufferer’s own immune system to fight back against cancer.
Matt Birney - Whilst the company is developing a portfolio of similar drugs and treatments based on immunotherapies, its “onCarlytics” cancer-fighting drug candidate is in the spotlight right now after the American FDA gave it clearance to be trialled for the first time in humans in combination with an existing drug.
Matt Birney - Okay Leslie without getting too technical on me, what exactly is your onCarlytics product and how exactly does it fight cancer?
Leslie Chong - It's a virus that only replicates or impacts solid tumors or cancer cells and then it shuttles up or flags or paints the entire solid tumor with CD19.
Leslie Chong - So as you mentioned CD19 therapies are already approved, there are several already out in the market but that's only toward blood diseases so now we get to get the response in combination with our onCarlytics in combination with the CD19 therapy to obliterate solid tumors, which is about roughly 90 per cent of cancer types.
Matt Birney - Okay so how does this differ to say chemotherapy I guess that's the sort of standard of care that everybody knows right now okay?
Leslie Chong - Look so chemotherapy does a good job of killing off cells in general. It does not preclude it from killing off healthy cells and also it doesn't necessitate for cancer to be abated so it doesn't stop it from growing again.
Matt Birney - Okay so the American FDA has given you approval for a first in humans clinical trial to use your product in combination with this CD19.
Matt Birney - I know the answers will come in the form of that trial but what early work have you done? What makes you think this might work?
Leslie Chong - We have an existing onCarlytics virus therapy and multiple solid tumor. This is not a CD19 combination or it doesn't shuttle up the CD19 so in the monotherapy or by itself, we've seen replication of, specifically in solid tumors, we've seen incredible safety and we are already seeing signals that this is working so, therefore, it gives me a lot of confidence that this combination is going to be the first in class therapy for solid tumors.
Matt Birney - What type of cancers will you target in the trial?
Leslie Chong - Multiple solid tumor. Even in our existing study we have testicular, biliary, breast cancer, lung cancer you name it. Any solid tumor we have it in our study and so this is going to be aimed towards a multitude of solid tumors.
Matt Birney - Leslie Chong from Imugene.
Matt Birney - Thanks for joining me on Bulls N' Bears and remember we're only here to give you information, not advice, which you should of course seek independently.
Matt Birney - I'm Matt Birney and this is Bulls N' Bears
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