On January 17, 2017 Oxis International Inc. [OTCQB: OXIS and OXI.PA], a biotechnology company focused on immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer, reported that it has enrolled two additional patients in a Phase 1/Phase 2 trial of its most promising cancer drug, OXS-1550 (Press release, OXIS International, JAN 17, 2017, View Source [SID1234539554]).
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The FDA-approved clinical trial is being conducted at the University of Minnesota’s Masonic Cancer Center under the watch of Clinical Investigator Dr. Veronika Bachanova and research scientist Dr. Daniel Vallera. Dr. Vallera developed OXS-1550 and is a member of the Oxis Biotech Scientific Advisory Board.
"This is another very important milestone for Oxis," said Anthony Cataldo, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Oxis. "Moving forward with the enrollment of these two patients will allow us to complete the phase 1 portion of the Oxis OXS-1550 Phase 1/Phase 2 FDA trial."
OXS-1550 (DT2219ARL) is designed to target cancer cells and destroy them, while leaving healthy cells alone. When OXS-1550 binds to cancer cells, the cancer cells internalize the drug and are killed.
"We are very optimistic about OXS-1550 and believe it has the potential to be an important therapy in the treatment of cancer," Mr. Cataldo said.
"What sets OXS-1550 apart from other cancer treatments is its ability to target cancer cells without damaging healthy cells," Dr. Vallera said. "As a result, the treatment has lower occurrences of side effects than more common cancer treatments. Additionally, the FDA has allowed these new patients to receive a much higher dosage and regimen."
"We believe OXS-1550 to be a powerful alternative to existing chemotherapies, since many patients fail chemotherapy or reach the toxic limits of their therapy. I am looking forward to helping guide Oxis into the future of targeted immunotherapy."
Dr. Vallera, who earned a Ph.D. in immunotherapy from Ohio State University, has spent 35 years with the University of Minnesota’s cancer center, where he is director of a laboratory specializing in translational molecular cancer research.