On March 11, 2022 AIkido Pharma Inc. (Nasdaq: AIKI) ("AIkido" or the "Company") reported that the Company and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center have agreed under their Master Collaboration Agreement to co-fund and codevelop a novel immuno-oncology treatment designed to promote the destruction of cancer cells by a patient’s own "killer" T-cells (Press release, AIkido Pharma, MAR 11, 2022, View Source [SID1234609988]).

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The Company and Cedars-Sinai will share costs, expenses and management of the drug co-development and will leverage the talent of Cedars-Sinai Technology Ventures and the lead scientists who originated the novel treatment. The parties will also share in the proceeds of any commercialization of the treatment.

The compounds to be codeveloped target the cellular pathway that causes CD8+ T-cells to enter an "exhausted state," rendering them ineffective against cancer cells. The new treatment targets and blocks recently discovered transcription factors essential for T-cells to enter the "exhausted state," the goal of which is to strengthen the ability of a patient’s T-cells to retain their capacity to destroy cancer cells.

Anthony Hayes, CEO of AIkido, stated, "Our agreement with Cedars-Sinai to collaborate in the funding and monetization of novel disease treatments is a major step for the Company. I am thrilled that Cedars-Sinai will be co-funding this project and providing its exceptional staff of scientists to advance this new cancer treatment, which I believe speaks volumes about its potential."