On January 31, 2017 VBL Therapeutics (NASDAQ:VBLT), reported the publication of a paper discussing MOSPD2, a potential novel immuno-oncology target (Press release, VBL Therapeutics, JAN 31, 2017, View Source [SID1234517609]). The paper, entitled, "Identification of Motile Sperm Domain–Containing Protein 2 as Regulator of Human Monocyte Migration" by Mendel et al., is published online in The Journal of Immunology. VBL’s manuscript reveals that MOSPD2, a protein with a previously unknown function, regulates cell migration in human monocytes. While this first manuscript focuses on the importance of MOSPD2 in immune cells, research conducted by VBL has explored the relevance of MOSPD2 in motility and metastasis of tumor cells. These oncology-related data will be presented at the forthcoming American Association of Cancer research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) conference in Washington, DC, April 1-5, 2017. Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo! This novel platform technology enriches VBL’s capabilities, which include the Vascular Targeting System (VTS) gene-therapy-based platform technology lead by the Phase 3 drug candidate VB-111 (ofranergene obadenovec) and the Lecinoxoids family of small molecules which have potential applications in cardiovascular, NASH and fibrotic diseases.
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"We have been working on this project in house for several years, ever since we learned that some of our Lecinoxoid molecules inhibit monocyte migration," said Eyal Breitbart, PhD, VP for Research at VBL. "Our experiments led to identification of MOSPD2 as a regulator of cell motility in monocytes and neutrophils, but moreover, they imply that MOSPD2 might be playing a similar role in certain tumor cells."
The company believes that targeting of MOSPD2 may have several therapeutic applications, including inhibition of monocyte migration in chronic inflammatory conditions, inhibition of tumor cell metastases and targeting of MOSPD2+ tumor cells. VBL’s "VB-600 series" of pipeline candidates is being developed towards these applications. The company expects to report additional findings related to MOSPD2 in Q2 2017.