On September 7, 2017 Iovance Biotherapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:IOVA), a biotechnology company developing novel cancer immunotherapies based on tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) technology, reported that it has entered into a preclinical research collaboration with The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James) focused on TIL, marrow-infiltrating lymphocyte (MIL) and peripheral blood-associated lymphocyte technologies (Press release, Iovance Biotherapeutics, SEP 7, 2017, View Source [SID1234520410]).
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The collaboration will initially focus on hematologic malignancies in areas of poor prognostic cancers with high unmet medical need, which include acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The collaboration will be co-led by Iovance researchers and by Dr. John Byrd, D. Warren Brown Chair of Leukemia Research, Distinguished University Professor of Medicine, Medicinal Chemistry and Veterinary Biosciences at the OSUCCC – James.
"We are very pleased to collaborate with the OSUCCC – James and Dr. Byrd, who brings an impressive track record and expertise in the preclinical and clinical development of ground-breaking hematological therapies," said Maria Fardis, Ph.D., MBA, President and Chief Executive Officer of Iovance Biotherapeutics. "Our initial internal work in developing TIL in hematologic malignancies will be presented at the upcoming ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) 2017 Congress and that work, along with our collaboration with the OSUCCC – James, shows our continued efforts in exploring the utilization of TIL therapy in hematological oncology indications, in addition to our ongoing clinical work in solid tumor indications."
"TIL directed therapy is an exciting novel application to both AML and CLL and our research team at the OSUCCC – James is excited to be part of this collaborative research to explore this new treatment approach," said Dr. Byrd.