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Batu Biologics Authors Peer-Reviewed Publication on Intravenous Vitamin C as Adjuvant to Cancer ImmunotherapySAN DIEGO --(Business Wire)-- Batu Biologics is pleased to announce publication in the peer-reviewed Journal of Translational Medicine detailing the rationale for its proprietary combination approach towards augmenting the immune system in cancer patients. The publication, which is freely available at http://www.translational-medicine.com/content/pdf/1479-5876-12-127.pdf, describes molecular and cellular alterations that account for immunotherapy associated toxicity, and how various antioxidants may be useful in decreasing such toxicities. Collaborators on the publication included Dr. Francesco Marincola, Chief Research Officer of Sidra Medical and Research Center, and President of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer; Dr. James Koropatnick, Director of the London Regional Cancer Center in Ontario, Canada; and Dr. Neil Riordan, a pioneer in scientific evaluation of oncological utility of ascorbic acid. Last week, Batu Biologics filed patent #61/990231, which covers the use of several formulations of antioxidants for reducing toxicities and increasing efficacy of immunotherapy. The publication reported today is focused on intravenous vitamin C as one such antioxidant. "The field of ascorbic acid for the treatment of cancer was originally highly controversial, given discrepancies in efficacy between the original clinical trials of Linus Pauling, and the Mayo Cliic trials. However, work by Dr. Neil Riordan, who is the senior author of this paper, demonstrated that only by intravenous administration it is possible to achieve high enough concentrations of ascorbic acid achieved in order to induce tumor death1, studies which were subsequently validated by the NIH2," stated Andy Kim, VP of Scientific Research for Batu Biologics. "In the current publication, the utility of intravenous ascorbic acid as a means of reducing toxicity of immunotherapy is presented. To our knowledge, this is the first time that members of the conventional cancer establishment have given support to integration of a holistic approach, such as intravenous ascorbic acid, in combination with cancer immune therapy." "Although Batu Biologics is highly focused on the clinical development of ValloVax, a cancer vaccine targeting tumor endothelium, from a corporate perspective we want to ensure that we have the highest possible chance of inducing the most benefit in patients we are treating," commented Samuel Wagner, CEO of Batu Biologics. "Accordingly, we are developing a variety of approaches, based on FDA approved agents, for augmenting efficacy of our cancer vaccine. The important point is that these 'immunological adjuvants' will be useful not only for augmentation of ValloVax efficacy, but also for other immunotherapies in general, thus providing possibility of licensing revenues." It is well known that tumors possess various "immunological shields" that protect them from attack by the body's immune system. Realization of this led to development of the immunological checkpoint inhibitors, such as Ipilimumab (Yervoy, made by Bristol Myers Squibb) which had sales of $706 million in 20123. Batu Biologics has data supporting the concept of repositioning existing drugs, such as intravenous ascorbic acid, to accomplish a similar attenuation of immune suppression, thus allowing for increased efficacy of immunotherapy, with reduced toxicity. About Batu Biologics: Batu Biologics is a preclinical biopharmaceutical company focusing on developing and commercializing allogeneic cell therapies in the area of immune modulation. Our products are centered around the idea of creating or breaking immune tolerance. The company is currently in the preclinical stages of drug development for its two flagship products: Immstem and Vallovax. Batu Biologics has filed two provisional patents in the field of cancer immunotherapy and plans to significantly expand its IP in 2014.
Corporate Address:
Laboratory Address: 1 Casciari et al. Br J Cancer. 2001 Jun 1;84(11):1544-50. 2 Chen et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008 Aug 12;105(32):11105-9. 3 http://www.fiercepharma.com/special-reports/yervoy/top-20-orphan-drugs-2018
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