On November 14, 2017 Tusk Therapeutics an immuno-oncology company with a focus on harnessing the power of the immune system to fight cancer through the development of novel immune modulating therapeutics, reported that it has been awarded a £2.5 million grant from Innovate UK (Press release, Tusk Therapeutics, NOV 14, 2017, View Source [SID1234522144]). The grant will be used to accelerate the development of its novel and strongly differentiated anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody as a cancer immunotherapy.
Tusk’s anti-CD38 antibody has the potential to significantly broaden the efficacious utility of monoclonal antibodies targeting the CD38 receptor, extending the current application beyond haematological tumours (e.g. Multiple Myeloma) to solid tumours. Tusk’s antibody’s novel mode of action aims to modulate the tumour microenvironment to allow the body’s immune system to generate a potent anti-tumour response.
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The grant will facilitate the completion of preclinical activities for its anti-CD38 antibody program and to conduct a Phase I trial and builds on Tusk’s preclinical research and recent novel insights into CD38 biology.
Luc Dochez, Chief Executive Officer of Tusk Therapeutics, commented: "We thank Innovate UK for supporting us with this grant which we believe is a great endorsement of the work currently being undertaken at Tusk. This grant will allow us to continue to accelerate the development of our novel CD38 programme. Tusk has established a growing, diversified pipeline of antibodies against a selection of both novel and validated targets that we believe have the potential to complement and improve upon current and emerging immune-oncology therapies. The UK is ideally placed as a hub for life science companies. Access to funding and support from industry bodies, such as Innovate UK, is invaluable for companies at our stage of development and is one of the reasons why Tusk, as a European company, has chosen to base itself in the UK."