BiconY’s work
Learn more about BiconY’s latest developments!
There’s a lot to get done – let’s make a start!
BiconY’s long-term work
One of the aims of our research is to provide a proof of concept of the efficacy of our bispecific antibody therapy for prostate and GI carcinoma. To that end, there are two clinical phase I/IIa studies currently being planned. We are also developing additional bispecific costimulators (BiCos) and bispecific antibodies (bsAbs) that are expected to produce positive results in other types of cancer, such as skin cancer. Twyce’s platform concept is helping us to achieve this. We can use it to support additional immunotherapy approaches, such as checkpoint inhibition and potentially even cancer vaccines!
Our current projects at a glance
Optimised IgG-based bispecific antibodies for the treatment of gastrointestinal cancer
Although major progress has been made in treating different types of cancer thanks to T cell-based immunotherapy, there are often still patients who do not respond to treatment. One example where this is the case is in gastrointestinal cancers. Significant progress has been made in this area through the administration of our cancer medications.
Our research team therefore began by developing a bispecific antibody whose target component attacks not only tumour cells but also tumour vessels, and whose effector part, via the CD3 molecule, can activate T cells that then destroy those cell structures. At present, our research team is working to develop this medication further with the aim of testing it soon on bowel cancer in a first-in-human clinical trial!
IgG-based bispecific antibody for improved dual targeting in PSMA-positive cancer
Studies have found that bispecific antibodies can lead to complete remission in leukaemia patients in certain circumstances. In solid tumours, the activity of bsAb was less successful due to the limited access of T cells to these tumours. In our in vitro experiments, however, the PSMA (prostate-specific membrane antigens) antibodies developed by us were shown to have more positive results. The GMP-compliant production of a bispecific PSMA antibody and an initial study in patients with prostate cancerhave already been completed successfully.
Bispecific PSMAxCD3 antibody in patients with castration-resistant prostate carcinoma
When prostate cancer is resistant to established androgen deprivation therapy, very few treatment options remain. We see an urgent medical need in this area! Our team is therefore experimenting with a novel bispecific PSMAxCD3 antibody for use in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Here too, an initial clinical study has already been conducted in humans, sponsored by the German Cancer Research Centre and the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Tübingen.
Completion of a phase I dose escalation study of bispecific PSMAxCD3 antibodies for the treatment of prostate cancer
A milestone in the development of our bispecific PSMAxCD3 antibodies was the phase I dose escalation study. The first study in humans began as a phase I study in November 2019, sponsored by the German Cancer Research Centre and the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Tübingen. The study was conducted on patients with castration-resistant prostate carcinoma. In August 2021, recruitment into the dose escalation phase was completed and the target dose for the first patients was determined.
IgG-based B7-H3xCD3 bispecific antibody for the treatment of pancreatic cancer, liver cancer and stomach cancer
In patients with pancreatic, liver and stomach cancer, there is still a high recurrence rate and a poor prognosis. This shows the importance of the need for new oncological treatment strategies. On the basis of previous studies, we have carried out a preclinical evaluation of a novel cancer medication! It is currently in GMP production for the treatment of pancreatic, liver and stomach cancer.
FAQs on the BiconY pipeline
All the important information about our projects at a glance:
How does BiconY choose the projects for its pipeline?
BiconY focuses on the most common forms of cancer. The potential of our technology in cancer immunotherapy is based on promising scientific findings and studies. To ensure that our cancer medications achieve the desired efficacy, we follow scientific and ethical standards. All our medications are manufactured according to GMP (good manufacturing practice).
What types of cancer treatment is in the pipeline?
Our research is focused on solid tumours. The BiconY Therapeutics pipeline covers therapeutic approaches for various types of cancer, including prostate and stomach cancer. Treatment with bsAbs also shows promising signs of therapeutic success in other types of cancer, such as pancreatic or lung cancer.
What is the process in the development phases like?
If a drug produces convincing results in tests with cell cultures outside the organism (in vitro tests), it can then be tested on animals. This is in part a matter of determining the efficacy and tolerability of the substances. Only then can clinical drug trials on humans begin. Phase I deals with safety, tolerability and pharmacological characteristics. Phase II studies are primarily aimed at determining the most effective dose. If a medication makes it to phase III, it is then tested on a larger patient group.
Can external partners get involved in the pipeline?
In the fight against cancer, BiconY is working with universities and pharmaceutical companies from all over the world that share our vision of a world without cancer. Transferring knowledge plays an important part in the development of our projects. Please get in touch to discuss a potential collaboration!
