On November 7, 2024 Xenetic Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:XBIO) ("Xenetic" or the "Company"), a biopharmaceutical company focused on advancing innovative immuno-oncology technologies addressing hard to treat oncology indications, reported it has extended its previously announced Research Funding and Option Agreement (the "Agreement") with The Scripps Research Institute ("TSRI") to advance the development of the Company’s program on the combination of systemic DNase and CAR T-cell therapies (Press release, Xenetic Biosciences, NOV 7, 2024, https://ir.xeneticbio.com/news/detail/153/xenetic-biosciences-inc-extends-research-and-development-collaboration-with-the-scripps-research-institute-to-advance-dnase-platform [SID1234647952]). Xenetic’s systemic DNase I candidate is undergoing preclinical evaluation in combination with anti-CD19 CAR-T and anti-EGFR CAR-T cells in models of CD19-expressing hematological cancers and EGFR-expressing metastatic melanoma. Previous studies at TSRI showed that co-administration of DNase I with CAR T cells significantly reduces tumor burden, decreases the number of metastatic foci, and substantially prolongs survival compared to the CAR-T cell monotherapy groups. Degrading of NETs by DNase I increases the amount of tumor-infiltrating T and CAR-T cells and reduces the immunosuppressive effects of the tumor microenvironment (TME).
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Collected preclinical data highlights the critical role of NETs in modulating CAR-T cell efficacy and we believe provides a compelling rationale for incorporating DNase I as an adjunctive treatment to improve therapeutic responses in patients undergoing CAR-T cell therapy.
Xenetic’s DNase-based oncology platform is designed to target neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), which are weblike structures composed of extracellular chromatin coated with histones and other proteins. In cancer, NETs are expelled by activated neutrophils into the TME and blood, thereby promoting cancer spread and local and systemic immunosuppression. Reduction of NETs burden via application of Xenetic’s proprietary recombinant human DNase I has been shown to improve efficacy of immunotherapy, adoptive cell therapy and chemotherapy in preclinical animal models.
"Scripps has continued to be a valued partner of ours and we are pleased to extend our collaboration agreement to further explore the potential of our DNase-based oncology platform. We are grateful we are able to continue to leverage the knowledge and expertise of the team at Scripps to potentially expand and broaden the utility of our proprietary platform technology," commented James Parslow, Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Xenetic.
Under the terms of the Scripps Research agreement, in addition to advancing Xenetic’s existing intellectual property, Xenetic has an option to acquire an exclusive license to any new intellectual property arising from the DNase research program. Xenetic is executing on its plans to advance its DNase-based oncology program towards Phase 1 clinical development for the treatment of pancreatic carcinoma and other locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors.