On November 17, 2016 Cellectar Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: CLRB) (the "company"), an oncology-focused, clinical stage biotechnology company, reported that following the successful conjugation of multiple, natural product cytotoxic molecules developed by Pierre Fabre to Cellectar’s PDC delivery platform, it has initiated in vivo studies for a variety of solid tumors (Filing, 8-K, Cellectar Biosciences, NOV 17, 2016, View Source [SID1234516674]).

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

Harnessing a selection of linkers to attach the cytotoxic molecules to the PDC platform, the company has constructed a series of novel compounds specifically designed for improved tumor targeting. This research collaboration falls under the company’s CLR CTX programs, geared to convert non-targeted cytotoxic agents into targeted cancer treatments when combined with Cellectar’s proprietary delivery system. The drug’s targeting enhancement is designed to further improve efficacy and reduce adverse events.

As part of the Pierre Fabre research collaboration, Cellectar has already completed a series of in vitro studies with the newly created compounds, and is currently compiling early efficacy data. Cellectar will then initiate additional in vitro and in vivo studies in melanoma, lung, and colon cancers, as well as in additional solid tumors.

"We are pleased with the advancement of these programs and look forward to sharing data from our development work with Pierre Fabre," said Jim Caruso, president and CEO of Cellectar Biosciences. "This partnership continues to create value for both of our companies. In parallel, we continue to make significant progress on our lead radiotherapeutic PDC, CLR 131, for the treatment of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, including our ongoing Phase I and our impending NCI-supported Phase II clinical trial in selected hematologic malignancies."

About Phospholipid Drug Conjugates (PDCs)
Cellectar’s product candidates are built upon its patented cancer cell-targeting delivery and retention platform of optimized phospholipid ether-drug conjugates (PDCs). The company deliberately designed its phospholipid ether (PLE) carrier platform to be coupled with a variety of payloads to facilitate both therapeutic and diagnostic applications. The basis for selective tumor targeting of our PDC compounds lies in the differences between the plasma membranes of cancer cells compared to those of normal cells. Cancer cell membranes are highly enriched in lipid rafts, which are glycolipoprotein microdomains of the plasma membrane of cells that contain high concentrations of cholesterol and sphingolipids, and serve to organize cell surface and intracellular signaling molecules. PDCs have been tested in over 70 different xenograft models of cancer.

About CLR 131
CLR 131 is an investigational compound under development for a range of hematologic malignancies. It is currently being evaluated in a Phase I clinical trial in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. The company plans to initiate a Phase II clinical study to assess efficacy in a range of B-cell malignancies in the first quarter of 2017. Based upon preclinical and interim Phase I study data, treatment with CLR 131 provides a novel approach to treating hematological diseases and may provide patients with therapeutic benefits, including overall response rate (ORR), an improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) and overall quality of life. CLR 131 utilizes the company’s patented PDC tumor targeting delivery platform to deliver a cytotoxic radioisotope, iodine-131 directly to tumor cells. The FDA has granted Cellectar an orphan drug designation for CLR 131 in the treatment of multiple myeloma.

About Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma
Multiple myeloma is the second most common blood or hematologic cancer with approximately 30,000 new cases in the United States every year. It affects a specific type of blood cells known as plasma cells. Plasma cells are white blood cells that produce antibodies to help fight infections. While treatable for a time, multiple myeloma is incurable and almost all patients will relapse or the cancer will become resistant/refractory to current therapies.