On May 17, 2022 Coeptis Therapeutics, Inc. (OTC PINK: COEP) ("Coeptis" or "the Company"), a biopharmaceutical company developing innovative cell therapy platforms for cancer, reported entry into an exclusive option agreement with the University of Pittsburgh for the rights to three chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) technologies that offer the potential to address a range of hematologic and solid tumors (Press release, Coeptis Pharmaceuticals, MAY 17, 2022, View Source [SID1234614776]). Among the initial cancer indications under development are pre-clinical programs targeting breast cancer and ovarian cancer. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
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The exclusive option agreement involves the intellectual property rights to three technologies jointly developed in the laboratories of Jason Lohmueller, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Immunology; Alexander Deiters, Ph.D., Professor of Chemistry; and Olivera Finn, Ph.D., Professor of Immunology: 1) mSA2 affinity-enhanced biotin-binding CAR, 2) universal self-labeling SynNotch and CARs for programable antigen-targeting, and 3) conditional control of universal CAR-T cells through stimulus-reactive adaptors. Per the option agreement, Coeptis paid the University of Pittsburgh a non-refundable fee for the exclusive option to license the patent rights to each of the three technologies. Coeptis has until October 29, 2022, to exercise the options and pay the specified exercise considerations. The option agreement may be extended an additional six months, subject to the agreement of both parties.
"2022 has been a transformational year for Coeptis, and this exclusive option agreement with the University of Pittsburgh provides an unprecedented opportunity to in-license three groundbreaking CAR-T technologies that we believe offer the potential to deliver CAR-T therapies to address both hematologic and solid tumors," said Dave Mehalick, CEO of Coeptis Therapeutics. "We are excited to have the opportunity to collaborate with the University of Pittsburgh to advance these innovative CAR-T technologies, which have the potential to be applied to a wide range of cancers currently underserved by conventional treatment options and first-generation CAR-T therapies, including breast and ovarian cancer."
"CAR-T offers the potential to revolutionize cancer treatment; however, there remain shortcomings with current CAR-T therapies that we believe, if addressed, could enable the technology to be utilized with additional types of cancer, including many solid tumors," said Jason Lohmueller. "Our efforts at the University of Pittsburgh involve three core opportunities: creating a universal CAR-T system that maintains a high-binding affinity, while also offering greater control over toxicity; developing a technology that can target multiple antigens simultaneously; and enabling conditional cell receptor control for systemic control over CAR-T cells. We welcome the opportunity to partner with Coeptis to advance these technologies."
The option agreement with the University of Pittsburgh marks the third material event for Coeptis this quarter and follows the recently announced definitive merger agreement with Bull Horn Holdings Corp. ["Bull Horn"] (Nasdaq: BHSE), a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) that is anticipated to close in the third quarter of 2022. Additionally, in April, Coeptis entered into a strategic agreement with Statera Biopharma, Inc. that gives Coeptis the right to acquire, subject to satisfaction of certain conditions, Statera’s toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5) agonist platform, including entolimod, a clinical-stage product currently being developed as a treatment for acute radiation syndrome.