Biosceptre, University of Queensland to collaborate on cancer antibodies

Biosceptre International has entered into a cancer treatment research agreement with the University of Queensland's (UQ) Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN).

Under the terms of the deal, facilitated by UQ commercialisation company UniQuest, the two groups will work to develop a bioprocess for producing the monoclonal antibodies Biosceptre is developing as cancer treatment candidates.

The AIBN's National Biologics Facility will characterise candidate monoclonal antibodies that bind Sydney-based Biosceptre's proprietary cancer target, nf-P2X7.

nf-P2X7 is a non-functional cellular receptor that is found on all cancer cells, but never on healthy cells. This makes it potentially the first universal cancer marker.

It is the non-functioning version of the P2X7 receptor, which normally facilitates programmed cell death in non-cancerous cells. The monoclonal antibodies are designed to trigger these receptors in cancer cells.

The R&D agreement will include antibody development, cell line development, bioprocess development and eventually recombinant protein production required for preclinical trials.

Biosceptre CEO Dr Cliff Holloway said this collaboration is a critical step towards reaching the trial stage.

“Our long-term goal is to develop a therapeutic monoclonal antibody capable of specifically detecting non-functional P2X7 and inducing cancer cell death without affecting normal healthy cells,” he said.

Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

In January, Biosceptre held meetings with investors to raise funds to take the monoclonal antibody technology through to phase I trials.