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New Scientific Publication Supports Agilvax's Novel Immunotherapy Development for Metastatic Breast Cancer
[December 05, 2017]

New Scientific Publication Supports Agilvax's Novel Immunotherapy Development for Metastatic Breast Cancer


Agilvax, Inc. announced a significant milestone for its immunotherapy, AX09, for the treatment of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). The preclinical results are being published in an article in the journal OncoImmunology, entitled "A Virus-Like-Particle immunotherapy targeting Epitope-Specific anti-xCT expressed on cancer stem cell inhibits the progression of metastatic cancer in vivo." Agilvax is a biotechnology company that develops targeted cancer immunotherapies and vaccines using its proprietary virus-like particle (VLP) discovery and development technology.

The preclinical results show that AX09 is able to significantly rduce both tumor growth and the development of pulmonary metastases, as a result of a robust and specific antibody response against xCT. Additionally, IgG isolated from AX09 treated mice bound to cancer stem cells, inhibited xCT function, and decreased cell growth in vitro. Collectively this data demonstrates the promise of AX09 as a potential therapy for TNBC. AX09 is currently being tested in combination with chemotherapy agents and checkpoint inhibitors to improve antitumor effects.



"AX09 represents a highly promising new therapy for TNBC," commented Federica Pericle, Ph.D., MBA, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We are proud to receive scientific interest in Agilvax, and AX09, as demonstrated by this publication in a high impact peer reviewed journal. We are focusing efforts and resources to complete IND enabling studies and ultimately advancing AX09 through the clinic."

TNBC is a histological subtype of breast cancer that is aggressive, with an overall poor prognosis due to a lack of effective treatment options. Chemotherapy remains the primary treatment for TNBC across the different settings: neoadjuvant, adjuvant, and metastatic.


AX09 is a VLP that displays a portion of the extracellular domain of the cystine-glutamate antiporter system protein xCT (SLC7A11), which has been found to be overexpressed in cancer stem cells. TNBC is enriched in cancer stem cells, which contributes to the aggressive nature of TNBC. Cancer stem cells have unique biological properties that represent a key cellular reservoir for relapse, metastatic progression and therapeutic resistance. Thus, the development of therapies that eliminate cancer stem cells is paramount to creating a durable response.

About Agilvax

Agilvax discovers and develops targeted cancer immunotherapies and vaccines with its proprietary virus-like particle (VLP) platform technology. Agilvax's lead product, AX09, is being developed as an immunotherapy for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) by targeting cancer stem cells. TNBC has a high frequency of cancer stem cells, which play a critical role in the high rates of recurrence and poor outcomes in TNBC as compared with other forms of breast cancer. The company's pipeline and drug discovery platform are based on VLPs derived from RNA bacteriophage that have been engineered to display antigens in an ordered geometric pattern, which can be utilized to stimulate robust and specific immune responses to both foreign pathogens and self-antigens. The Company was founded in 2011 and has headquarters in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and offices in El Paso, Texas.


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