Ofranergene obadenovec

Ofranergene obadenovec, also known as VB-111, is an anti-angiogenic gene therapy.

The vector is a non-replicating adenovirus 5. The payload is a chimeric gene encoding a fusion protein that combines the extracellular and intramembrane domains of the human TNF receptor 1 and the intracellular domain of the Fas receptor, under the control of a modified version of the murine promoter for endothelin-1, which is called PPE-1. PPE-1 drives tissues specific expression and also has a hypoxia responsive element. The FasR part of the payload is intended to drive cell death in the endothelium of blood vessels where the chimeric protein is expressed; the TNF-R1 part is intended to provide some tumor specificity.[1]

Phase I trial results were presented in 2010 and as of 2011 Phase II trials in metastatic thyroid cancer had been started.[1]

It was granted fast track designation and orphan drug status by the FDA in 2013 for treatment of glioblastoma multiforme.[2]

It is under development by an Israeli company called Vascular Biogenics, also called VBL Therapeutics.[2] The company was founded in 2000 by Dror Harats and Jacob George; it tried to hold an IPO on NASDAQ under the Jobs Act in August 2014, but the offering failed and was withdrawn after the stock had traded for six days.[3][4] The company made a successful offering in September 2014 and raised $40 million.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b Triozzi, PL; Borden, EC (December 2011). "VB-111 for cancer". Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy. 11 (12): 1669–76. doi:10.1517/14712598.2011.618122. PMID 21961496. S2CID 19909391.
  2. ^ a b "Ofranergene obadenovec". AdisInsight. Retrieved 2017-02-23.
  3. ^ Demos, Telis; Patterson, Scott; Dieterich, Chris (12 August 2014). "Vascular Biogenics Says It Didn't Go Public After All". Wall Street Journal.
  4. ^ Demos, Telis (19 August 2014). "Broken Commitment Ruined Vascular Biogenics IPO". Wall Street Journal.
  5. ^ Demos, Telis (1 October 2014). "Vascular Biogenics Revives Its U.S. IPO". Wall Street Journal.