MIRAMAR, Florida, March 29 /PRNEWSWIRE/ -- Altor BioScience Corporation today announced significant advances in its soluble T-cell antigen receptor (STAR™) technology program with the publication of studies supporting use of STAR fusions as targeted anti-cancer therapeutics. In addition, Altor has been awarded a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant to support development of STAR reagents for tumor diagnostic applications.

The report entitled “A soluble single-chain T-cell receptor IL-2 fusion protein retains MHC-restricted peptide specificity and IL-2 bioactivity” appears in the April issue of Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy. In these studies, Altor generated functional STAR fusion proteins consisting of a tumor antigen-specific T-cell receptor (TCR) linked to the approved anti-cancer cytokine, interleukin-2 (IL-2). Altor’s approach is to use the TCR to guide IL-2 to the tumor site where the cytokine can stimulate the immune system to fight the cancer. Altor found that the TCR-IL-2 fusion exhibited favorable pharmacokinetics and provided a substantially increased half-life for the IL-2 portion of the molecule. Altor’s collaborators at the Florida Hospital Cancer Institute in Orlando, Florida showed that the fusion protein was capable of reducing lung metastases in an experimental tumor model. The fusion protein was also used in screening studies to specifically detect human tumor cells. Additional studies will be presented at the 95th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research this month demonstrating potent activity of STAR fusions against tumors including well-established primary tumors in several different experimental models.

Hing Wong, Ph.D., CEO of Altor, commented, “The results we reported represent a breakthrough in showing for the first time that TCR-based targeting reagents are active in blocking tumor growth in vivo. The fact that the STAR-cytokine fusion is more stable than the existing drug also suggests that this approach could lead to safer, more effective treatment. This paper is the first in a series of preclinical efficacy studies Altor has completed to advance STAR therapeutics into human clinical trials.

We are further exploring opportunities for using TCR-based agents to detect and monitor cancer and viral infections. We are very pleased that the National Cancer Institute, through the SBIR grant program, has recognized the value and potential of this program.”

As part of its anti-cancer program, Altor has generated a number of soluble TCR fusion proteins directed against different tumor-associated antigens. The SBIR grant will provide $100,000 over a 12-month period to support the development of diagnostic screening/imaging methods using these reagents. This award represents the eighth SBIR grant awarded to Altor for development of its technologies.

About Altor BioScience:

Altor is a privately held biotechnology company developing targeted immunotherapies for treating cancer, viral infections, and autoimmune diseases. Altor’s patented technologies facilitate the production of soluble TCR and major histocompatibility complex molecules. Altor is employing these technologies to improve the safety and efficacy of existing therapeutics. For more information, visit www.altorbioscience.com.

Contact: Altor Bioscience Corp., Peter Rhode, Ph.D., 954-443-8600 peterrhode@altorbioscience.com