Patrys’ lead drug candidate can cross blood brain barrier to target triple-negative breast cancers
PAT-DX1-NP can cross the blood brain barrier and successfully target triple-negative breast cancer brain metastases in a mouse model.
A pre-clinical animal study by Australian therapeutic antibody company Patrys (ASX: PAB) has shown the development drug PAT-DX1-NP is able to cross the blood brain barrier and successfully target triple-negative breast cancer brain metastases.
The Yale School of Medicine study found that PAT-DX1-NP administered by tail vein injection in a mouse model of triple-negative breast cancer brain metastases improved delivery of nanoparticles across the barrier by 260%.
The data illustrated that PAT-DX1-NP was delivered to regions of the brain where more metastatic tissue was localised, reinforcing the potential use of the technology for therapeutic targeting.
Chief executive officer and managing director Dr James Campbell said the results reflect efforts to leverage the platform technology applications of Patrys’ Deoxymab antibody-based cancer therapy which targets tumours, penetrates cells, binds to DNA and blocks DNA repair.
“The confirmation that PAT-DX1-NP delivers payloads across the blood brain barrier holds significant promise for numerous existing small molecule therapeutics which are currently not able to enter the brain to treat primary cancers and metastases,” he said.
“We are excited to offer potential partners a deeper understanding of the broader applications of the Deoxymab platform technology which we hope, in time, will unlock the body’s full defence systems in the fight against cancer.”
The platform’s lead candidates are PAT-DX1-NP and PAT-DX1, the latter of which has shown potential to improve survival rates for patients with highly-aggressive brain tumours on the back of a pre-clinical animal study last July.
In vivo imaging
The PAT-DX1-NP study was based on brain metastases generated by injection of luciferase-labelled, brain-seeking triple-negative breast cancer cells directly into circulation via intracardiac injection.
The presence of brain metastases was confirmed by in vivo imaging, and mice were then randomised to treatment with tail vein injection of either nanoparticles alone or PAT-DX1-NP.
Localisation of nanoparticles or PAT-DX1-NP to brain metastases was quantified 24 hours later.
Dr Campbell said the vast majority of small molecule therapeutics currently available are unable to cross the blood brain barrier and unable to be used as therapeutic interventions for central nervous system disorders.
“There is significant growing interest in using conjugated nanoparticles to cross the barrier and deliver various payloads to the brain to treat a range of pathologies,” he said.