Neotex Initiates Phase 2 Clinical Trial for Immuno-Oncology Drug

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyungsoo Park] Overseas media introduced the Phase 2 clinical trial results of the next-generation immuno-oncology drug based on the tumor-targeting superantigen (TTS) platform of NeoTX Therapeutics (NeoTX), an affiliate of AndyForce.

On the 28th, AndyForce announced that on the 22nd (local time), the Jerusalem Post, a major Israeli daily newspaper, published an interview article titled "Israeli biotech company NeoTX is changing cancer treatment methods."

Asher Neidan, CEO of NeoTX, cited the differentiated mechanism from other drugs as the main reason for the high potential success of NeoTX's new drug. He said, "AstraZeneca and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute under Harvard Medical School recognize NeoTX's strengths and are currently conducting joint cancer research on multiple cancers. Independently, we successfully passed Phase 1 clinical trials last year and are now conducting Phase 2 trials."

The TTS platform was created by combining a bacterial superantigen, which activates immune cells immediately upon detection in the human body, with an antibody that binds to antigens (proteins) commonly expressed in major solid tumors. The superantigen, which strongly activates immune cells, primarily triggers an explosive activation of immune cells in the body. By binding to antigens present on the surface of solid tumor cells, it causes the immune cells to recognize the solid tumors as bacteria, enabling the immune cells to selectively attack only cancer cells. While it has a high anticancer effect on its own, when combined with currently used immune checkpoint inhibitors, it shows anticancer effects in many patients who do not respond to immune checkpoint inhibitor monotherapy.

In the interview, CEO Neidan stated, "Using the TTS platform, it will be possible to treat many cancers that are difficult to treat with immune checkpoint inhibitors," and added, "We expect to launch the new drug as early as 2024."

NeoTX is also conducting joint research on a kidney cancer treatment drug with CureBio, a subsidiary of AndyForce.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.