Kerberos Biopharmaceuticals Inc.
An early stage drug discovery and development company
Monday, October 13, 2014
Embassy Suites, Chesterbrook, Pennsylvania (directions)
|
About
|
Kerberos Biopharmaceuticals is an early stage drug discovery and development company that aims to develop drugs for the treatment of patients with advanced breast and prostate cancer. Kerberos Biopharma is the world-leader in the research and development of highly potent small molecule antagonists of CX3CR1.
Kerberos Biopharma’s founder, Dr. Alessandro Fatatis, MD, PhD, an experimental oncologist at Drexel University College of Medicine, has shown the critical role that the CX3CR1/fractalkine pair plays in the recruitment of breast circulating tumor cells (CTCs) to the skeleton. Using a specialized animal model and an innovative experimental approach, it was found that CX3CR1 is required for CTCs to get access to and colonize the bone stroma as disseminated tumor cells (DTCs). This model system emulates the CTC-based progression of human breast cancer, a disease with known high frequency of bone metastasis.
In the same animal model, Kerberos Biopharma’s small molecule antagonists, discovered by Dr. Joseph Salvino, Medicinal Chemistry, Drexel University College of Medicine, reduced CTC dissemination and eliminated metastasis in >90% of treated animals after very limited drug exposure. This is the first-ever demonstration of reduction in tumor spreading due to down-regulation of the CX3CR1/fractalkine axis. It suggests that the CX3CR1/fractalkine axis plays a significant role in metastatic breast cancer and that antagonism of this axis will dramatically reduce progression and dissemination of the disease.
Kerberos Biopharma intends to study its CX3CR1 antagonists in advanced breast cancer population, primarily triple negative (TNBC) and inflammatory (IBC) breast cancers, two of the most aggressive forms of breast cancer. A significant percentage of IBC and TNBC patients already have bone metastases at presentation. The majority of patients progress rapidly and succumb to the disease within a year of presenting with metastasis; there are no approved therapies specifically indicated for metastatic breast cancer.
These CX3CR1 antagonists prevent the "reseeding" of tumor cells. At diagnosis, breast and prostate cancer cells may have already spread. The goal is to stop them from reaching other sites in the bone and spreading to organs such as the brain and liver.
3 Major Issues
|
- How do we position an anti-metastatic drug from a marketing standpoint? i.e. in combination with Standard of Care? What studies are required for reimbursement?
- The literature suggests that a CNS penetrating chemokine antagonist drug may be effective in bone cancer pain. Should we include bone cancer pain as an indication and add this into a Phase 1 extension? What would be the additional cost and how would it change the clinical endpoints - e.g. pain versus oncology (progression free survival, overall survival)?
- What are the benefits of using biomarkers in Phase I in view of the clinical validity of circulating tumor cells and metastatic disease? (Lancet Oncology, March 11, 2014).
Program:
|
6:30 - Cocktails & Dinner (Cash bar and special 2-entree buffet menu)
8:00 - Alessandro Fatatis, MD, PhD & Joseph Salvino PhD, will deliver the Company's "Elevator" Pitch to the Group
8:20 - Panel will address three major issues crucial to helping the Company reach the next level.
9:00 - Open discussion: members and guests
|
 |
|
Slides
Audio
Video
Webcast
