OncoQuest Announces Presentation of Pre-Clinical Data from its IgE Based Immunotherapy Platform Technology at the 32nd Annual Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC)

EDMONTON, Nov. 14, 2017 /CNW/ - OncoQuest Inc. ("OncoQuest"), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of immunotherapeutic products for the treatment of cancer, today announced that it will be presenting pre-clinical data from its Immunoglobulin E (IgE) based immunotherapy platform technology, titled "Tumor Protective Effect of Anti-MUC1 IgE in Pancreatic Cancer" at the 32nd Annual Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) meeting (November 8 - 12) in National Harbor, Maryland. 

The presentation demonstrates the generation of an antigen specific immunity that protected against pancreatic cancer in a transgenic animal tumor model using combinatory immunotherapy with this novel class of antibodies. NK and CD8 cells are implicated for the observed cell mediated anti-tumor responses. The IgE also induces a time dependent increase in intra-tumor vascular permeability that may enhance chemotherapeutic effects.

"The preclinical data supports our technology platform using cancer antigen specific immunoglobulins for combinatory immunotherapy of cancer," stated Dr. Madiyalakan, CEO of OncoQuest. "Our oregovomab program based on our immunoglobulin G platform has already shown clinical benefits in frontline ovarian cancer patients based on interim data presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology ("ASCO") 2017.  This new class of IgE antibodies promises to be our next generation immunotherapeutic product."

The immunoglobulin E (IgE) is a class of antibody that can trigger a broad range of immune and vasculature responses which OncoQuest is currently evaluating for oncology applications. OncoQuest's immunoglobulin E program includes three cancer antigen specific IgE (MUC1, PSA and Her2/neu) licensed from UCLA, Stanford University and Advanced Immune Therapeutics, Inc.

About oregovomab

Oregovomab is OncoQuest's high affinity monoclonal antibody (Mab B43.13) that is designed to bind to the tumor associated antigen CA125 (also designated MUC16) and initiate a cascade of immune responses against this glycoprotein.  CA125 is expressed in epithelial ovarian cancer on the tumor surface, but is also shed into the circulation. OncoQuest believes that carboplatin paclitaxel based chemotherapy used in front line treatment in a precisely scheduled combination with oregovomab can improve outcomes relative to chemotherapy alone and is currently exploring the role of select immune adjuvants and checkpoint inhibition to assess oregovomab's application in advanced disease settings.

About OncoQuest
OncoQuest is a subsidiary of Quest PharmaTech Inc. (TSXV-QPT) ("Quest"), and is a private biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of immunotherapies for cancer. OncoQuest's technology platform includes a panel of tumor antigen specific monoclonal immunoglobulins including CA125, MUC1, PSA and Her2/neu; and the application of combinatorial immunotherapy to enhance tumor specific immunity and clinical outcome. OncoQuest's lead product is oregovomab for the treatment of ovarian cancer that is currently undergoing multiple Phase 2 clinical trials. OncoQuest's MUC1 program has already undergone a Phase 1 clinical trial in breast cancer patients, and its development is being led by OncoVent Co. Ltd., OncoQuest's joint venture partner that has licensed the rights of the immunotherapy technologies in the territory of Greater China. OncoQuest's next-generation products are based on immunoglobulin E licensed from UCLA, Stanford University and Advanced Immune Therapeutics, Inc. These antigen-specific monoclonal IgE antibodies are currently in preclinical development.  

Forward Looking Statements
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SOURCE Quest PharmaTech Inc.