Nov 7 2008
PDS Biotechnology Corporation today announced that the company has been selected as a collaborator of the US National Cancer Institute's Nanotechnology Characterization Lab (NCL) to complete preclinical development of Versamune(TM)-HPV prior to filing of the Investigational New Drug Application. The NCL will perform selected physical, chemical and biological studies on behalf of the company at its facilities at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in Frederick, Maryland. Dr. Frank Bedu-Addo, President of the Corporation stated that, "PDS Biotechnology Corporation's partnership with the NCL provides significant value to the company. The invaluable expertise of the NCL's scientists will provide the company with additional expert resources and technologies, and will facilitate rapid development of the product."
Versamune(TM)-HPV is an immunotherapy drug which has demonstrated significant promise in curing HPV infection and HPV-related cancer in preclinical animal and human model studies. Cancers caused by infection with the human papilloma virus (HPV) include cervical, head and neck and anal cancers. No cures exist for these cancers. Based on promising in vivo and in vitro efficacy data, PDS Biotechnology Corporation was awarded in August 2008, a phase I SBIR grant by the US National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute to develop Versamune(TM)-Melanoma to treat melanoma, which is the most aggressive form of skin cancer.
PDS Biotechnology Corporation's Versamune(TM) nanotechnology facilitates the uptake of disease-associated protein and peptide antigens by the antigen- presenting cells of the immune system and simultaneously acts a strong immune system activator (adjuvant) without the inflammatory side effects induced by current adjuvants. The result is simple, safe and cost effective nanotechnology-based drugs and vaccines that induce effective eradication of the specific cells infected with, or expressing the particular protein formulated with Versamune(TM).