BioCentury
ARTICLE | Product R&D

A solid move

Cantargia shifts focus to solid tumors

November 19, 2015 8:00 AM UTC

Following its IPO in March, Cantargia AB is shifting the focus of its lead program from cancers of the blood to solid tumors. After finding its anti-IL-1RAP mAb affects the tumor microenvironment as well as acting directly on tumor cells, the company realized the compound could have greater potential in pancreatic and lung cancers than its originally planned indication of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML).

The Lund University spinout built its lead compound, CAN04, based on research showing IL-1RAP was present at high levels on surfaces of cancer stem cells in CML, but not on healthy bone marrow cells. This week, the company presented data at a meeting sponsored by brokerage Sedermera Fondkommission showing IL-1RAP is expressed in about 80% of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells and 70% of pancreatic cancer cells, which is comparable to its expression levels in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML)...