MARLBOROUGH, Mass.,
March 28, 2019 /PRNewswire/
-- Phio Pharmaceuticals Corp. (NASDAQ: PHIO) announced today
that it has entered into a research collaboration with Glycostem
Therapeutics BV to explore the potential synergies of using Phio's
self-delivering RNAi technology (sd-rxRNA®) in combination with
Glycostem's proprietary Natural Killer-cell (NK-cell) generation
technology (oNKord®) to develop cellular immunotherapies for cancer
treatment with enhanced efficacy and/or safety.
Logo -
https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/786567/Phio_Pharmaceuticals_Logo.jpg
The companies' research teams will collaborate and examine the
applicability of Phio's sd-rxRNA technology to be integrated into
Glycostem's processes to produce NK-cells with the ultimate goal to
further improve Glycostem's cellular immunotherapies for the
treatment of cancer patients.
Dr. Jan Spanholtz, CSO of Glycostem commented, "One of the
research focuses of Glycostem is novel oNKord® products with
improved functions. Towards that goal we have already established
several collaborations, and we are glad to expand our efforts in
this field in collaboration with Phio Pharmaceuticals. We believe
their proprietary self-delivering RNAi technology can provide new
and more effective ways for expanding and differentiating NK-cells.
In addition, their technology can help overcome immune checkpoints
or other immunosuppressive roadblocks that NK-cells may encounter,
which may further enhance the efficacy and safety of our cellular
therapies."
Dr. Gerrit Dispersyn, President and CEO of Phio Pharmaceuticals,
added, "We are excited to partner with Glycostem, a leading
cellular immunotherapy company. Their focus on safe and
cost-effective allogeneic approaches with the promise of providing
'off-the-shelf' cellular products very much aligns with our vision
on the use of innovative technology to create a next generation of
very powerful adoptive cell therapies against various cancers."
About Glycostem Therapeutics BV
Netherlands-based Glycostem Therapeutics BV, a
clinical stage biotech company focused on developing off-the shelf
allogeneic cellular immunotherapy using Natural Killer (NK) cells
to treat several types of cancer. NK-cells are the body's first
line of defence because of the innate ability of NK-cells to
rapidly and accurately identify and destroy cells under stress,
such as cancer or virally-infected cells. Glycostem's lead product,
oNKord®, is produced in a closed system in Glycostem's state-of
the-art production facility in the
Netherlands, from which the product can be distributed
globally. The platform technology includes ex vivo expansion of a
high number of pure and highly activated NK-cells for clinical
applications. oNKord® successfully concluded phase I clinical trial
(elderly and fragile AML patients), providing solid safety data and
strong indication of clinical activity, including response on MRD.
Glycostem expects to obtain GMP certification by the mid-2019 and
is planning to enter pivotal clinical trial in 2nd half
2019. Thanks to a solid patent portfolio, longstanding technical
expertise and resources, as well as 'Orphan Drug Designation',
Glycostem has secured a leadership position in the global NK-cell
market. For more information, please visit www.Glycostem.com.
About Phio Pharmaceuticals Corp.
Phio Pharmaceuticals
Corp. (NASDAQ: PHIO) is a biotechnology company developing the next
generation of immuno-oncology therapeutics based on its
self-delivering RNAi (sd-rxRNA®) therapeutic platform. The
Company's discovery and research efforts are focused on developing
sd-rxRNA therapeutic compounds to be used in the context of
adoptive cell transfer by targeting checkpoints or other gene
targets, or to be used in immunotherapy following intratumoral
injection. We aim to maximize the power of our sd-rxRNA therapeutic
compounds by weaponizing therapeutic immune effector cells to
attack cancer, and to make tumors more susceptible to such attacks,
and ultimately provide patients battling cancers with a powerful
new treatment option that goes beyond current treatment modalities.
For additional information, visit the Company's website,
www.phiopharma.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking
statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future
performance. These statements are based only on our current
beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our
business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated
events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because
forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject
to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that
are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our
control. Our actual results may differ materially from those
indicated in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number
of important factors, including, but not limited to, the safety and
efficacy of our product candidates, future success of our clinical
trials and scientific studies, expected duration of available cash
runway, our ability to enter into strategic partnerships and the
future success of these strategic partnerships, the availability of
funds and resources to pursue our research and development projects
and general economic conditions. Our Annual Report on
Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q
include detailed risks under the caption "Risk Factors" that may
affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Readers are urged to review these risk factors and to not act in
reliance on any forward-looking statements, as actual results may
differ from those contemplated by our forward-looking statements.
Phio does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to
reflect a change in its views, events or circumstances that occur
after the date of this release.
Contact
Phio Pharmaceuticals Corp.
ir@phiopharma.com
Glycostem Therapeutics BV
Troels@Glycostem.com
View original
content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/phio-and-glycostem-to-collaborate-on-use-of-its-sd-rxrna-platform-and-glycostems-onkord-cell-therapy-products-for-the-next-generation-of-natural-killer-cell-based-immunotherapy-for-cancer-treatment-300819951.html
SOURCE Phio Pharmaceuticals Corp.