{"id":27571,"date":"2015-08-17T12:55:42","date_gmt":"2015-08-17T16:55:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sciencebusiness.technewslit.com\/?p=27571"},"modified":"2016-06-11T12:26:05","modified_gmt":"2016-06-11T16:26:05","slug":"antibodies-to-treat-cancer-complication-licensed-to-pharma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/technewslit.com\/sciencebusiness\/?p=27571","title":{"rendered":"Antibodies to Treat Cancer Complication Licensed to Pharma"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Cancer<\/a>
(PDPics\/Pixabay)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

17 August 2015. Aveo Oncology<\/a>, a developer of biopharmaceuticals for cancer and related diseases, is licensing its engineered antibody designed to treat cachexia, a complication of cancer and other disorders, to the pharmaceutical company Novartis. The agreement could bring Aveo as much as $326 million over the course of the collaboration.<\/p>\n

Cachexia<\/a> is a metabolic disorder characterized by malnutrition, weight loss, and a wasting away of muscle and fat, and can result in anemia and suppression of immune functions. The disease is often a complication of cancer and other chronic diseases including HIV\/AIDS, congestive heart failure, rheumatoid arthritis, and tuberculosis. The company cites data showing about 5 million people in the U.S. suffer from cachexia, which is responsible for about 30 percent of all cancer deaths.<\/p>\n

Aveo Oncology, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, develops therapies with what its Human Response Platform, a technology that addresses biomarkers for cancer and related disorders. For cachexia, Aveo is developing a treatment code-named AV-380<\/a>, an engineered antibody designed to block the cell-signaling protein known as growth differentiation factor 15<\/a>. This protein promotes inflammation and, says Aveo, in elevated levels is associated with cancer-caused cachexia in humans as well as symptoms associated with cachexia.<\/p>\n

In April 2015, Aveo presented findings of preclinical tests<\/a> of AV-380 at a meeting of the\u00a0<\/span>American Association of Cancer Research, where mice induced with cancer-caused cachexia were treated with AV-380 or a control antibody. The results show the mice receiving AV-380 were able to inhibit the actions of growth differentiation factor 15. In addition, the AV-380 mice were able to reverse the effects of cachexia syndrome, and showed increased food intake, energy expenditure, and physical activity.<\/p>\n

Under the new agreement, Novartis receives an exclusive worldwide license to develop AV-380, as well as related antibodies in any modified or derivative forms, with Novartis responsible for clinical development, commercialization, and manufacturing. Aveo receives an immediate payment of $15 million, and will qualify for reimbursements and payments keyed to clinical, regulatory, and sales milestones of up to $311 million. Aveo will also be eligible for royalties on sales of products resulting from the collaboration.<\/p>\n

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