Latest patent broadens protection around OCEA’s platform of first-in-class anti-CHi3L1 therapeutic immunotherapy candidates, based on the breakthrough discovery by scientific co-founder, Dr. Jack A. Elias, that CHi3L1 is a “master regulator” of tumor growth in multiple visceral cancers.
Providence, RI, May 23, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ocean Biomedical (NASDAQ: OCEA) announced today that its Scientific Co-founder, Dr. Jack A. Elias, MD, has been issued a broad patent for his cancer immunotherapy discovery related to reversing immune system suppression by binding chitinase 3-like-1 (CHi3L1) polypeptides with Ocean Biomedical’s proprietary immunoglobulin antibody. This process has been shown to suppress primary and metastatic tumor growth in multiple animal models and has potential use in multiple forms of visceral cancers.
Ocean Biomedical’s monoclonal antibody is one component of a unique oncology platform that is building multiple approaches to activating natural anticancer immune responses by suppressing CHi3L1, with potential for broad application. The patent has been granted for prostate cancer, colon cancer, rectal cancer, ovarian cancer, kidney cancer, breast cancer, glioblastoma, melanoma, and lung cancer. The newest claims dovetail issued patents with claims coverage focused on composition of matter of monoclonal antibodies targeting and inhibiting CHi3L1.
“This pathway discovery is an unprecedented leap forward, because if you control CHi3L1, you don’t just control one anti-cancer pathway, you simultaneously control many anti-cancer pathways,” said Dr. Elias. “We are making discoveries that we believe will drive cancer research, and eventually treatment and patient outcomes, forward.”
“We are excited to see Dr. Elias’ work receive this important patent, and we are working on the systematic steps needed to progress the anti-CHi3L1 antibodies into the clinic to potentially become impactful new cancer therapeutics,” commented Ocean Biomedical’s CEO, Elizabeth Ng.
“These discoveries have the potential to save thousands of lives of people affected not just by lung metastasis, and melanoma, but also glioblastoma and other forms of cancer,” commented Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria, Ocean Biomedical’s co-founder and Executive Chairman.
Dr. Jack A. Elias is the former Chair of Yale’s Department of Internal Medicine, Dean Emeritus of Medicine and Biological Sciences at Brown University, and current Professor of Translational Science, Medicine and Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. He is a leading pulmonary care specialist and research pioneer. In 2019, Dr. Elias co-founded Ocean Biomedical with several Brown University colleagues, alums, and experienced pharma business leaders to help address major unmet medical needs by accelerating more discovery science into needed therapeutics.
About Cancer Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is an evolving approach to cancer therapeutics that enhances traditional treatments by activating a person’s own immune system to fight cancer. Immunotherapy can boost the immune system to find and attack cancer cells. Monoclonal antibodies are immune system proteins created to bind to specific targets on cancer cells or cells in the tumor growth environment. Ocean Biomedical’s monoclonal antibody targets a polypeptide (CHi3L1) that is associated with accelerated tumor growth in a wide range of cancers. By suppressing CHi3L1, Ocean Biomedical has been able to suppress primary and metastatic tumor growth in multiple animal models. As reflected in the newly issued patent, this unique immunotherapy approach has potential use in multiple forms of visceral cancers.
About Ocean Biomedical
Ocean Biomedical, Inc. is a Providence, Rhode Island-based biopharma company with an innovative business model that accelerates the development and commercialization of scientifically compelling assets from research universities and medical centers. Ocean Biomedical deploys the funding and expertise to move new therapeutic candidates efficiently from the laboratory to the clinic, to the world. Ocean Biomedical is currently developing five promising discoveries that have the potential to achieve life-changing outcomes in lung cancer, brain cancer, pulmonary fibrosis, and the prevention and treatment of malaria. The Ocean Biomedical team is working on solving some of the world’s toughest problems, for the people who need it most.
To learn more, visit www.oceanbiomedical.com.
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Any discoveries announced by the Company are based solely on laboratory and animal studies. The Company has not conducted any studies that show similar efficacy or safety in humans. There can be no assurances that any treatment tested by the Company will prove safe or effective in humans, and any clinical benefit of any such treatment is subject to clinical trials and ultimate approval of its use in patients by the FDA. Such approval, if granted, could be years away.
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