iCellate and Aptadel awarded Eurostars grant of 10 MSEK for novel cancer treatment and companion diagnostic
Stockholm 17 March 2022 – iCellate Medical, a Swedish genomic cancer diagnostics company and Spanish therapeutics company Aptadel have been awarded a grant of 10 MSEK from Eurostars for a first in-class RNA Aptamer-based targeted therapy for childhood cancer Ewing Sarcoma.
For the second time in two years, iCellate has been awarded a substantial grant from Eurostars. As with the grant from 2020, for the Elevate project, iCellate will develop a new class of biomarker tests based on liquid biopsy to select patients for treatment with a new targeted cancer therapy. The Swedish government agency, Vinnova, will provide the subsidy and governmental oversight.
– It is gratifying that Eurostars and Vinnova recognize the potential of the advanced treatment and diagnostic services we offer cancer patients and healthcare providers, says Christer Ericsson, iCellate CSO.
In addition to iCellate and Aptadel, the consortium includes the Spanish CRO Anapharm. Anapharm will develop a bioanalytical test to track what the body does to the ADEL-101 drug and what the drug does to the body.
The novel therapy is based on the breakthrough discovery that Ewing Sarcoma cells, and not healthy cells, highly express a receptor called EphA2 on their surface. In this context the EphA2 promotes tumor growth and metastasis (spread). Aptadel designed an RNA-based therapy (ADEL-101) that targets the EphA2-receptor, reducing its ability to promote metastasis. The molecule further inhibits an Ewing Sarcoma-specific driver mutation, ultimately killing the cancer cells while normal cells are spared.
iCellate will be an essential diagnostic partner in Adaptel’s drive to quickly bring the new compound ADEL-101 to safe and effective use in humans. The Eurostars grant will enable iCellate to deliver liquid biopsy solutions to Adaptel, providing the Spanish company with a companion diagnostic to match their new compound ADEL-101 only to those patients who are expected to benefit from it.
Pelle Redare, iCellate CEO, says:
– The grant is particularly rewarding since the study will aim to help young patients with Ewing Sarcoma. We can hopefully contribute to improve the prognoses for these patients, which today are very poor with a 5-year survival below 20%. It is exciting to offer the companion diagnostic tools for new treatments that improve efficacy and decrease side effects.
The Eurostar grant-funded project is scheduled to start in early summer of 2022. Once the project is completed, the new therapeutic with its associated diagnostic test will be ready for clinical trials.
About iCellate Medical
iCellate is a spin off from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. The company’s office and ISO 15189 accredited medical laboratory are also located in Stockholm, where the company performs its genomic cancer diagnostics services. The company has received several prestigious awards and scientific grants from, for example, Roche, Eurostars, Vinnova and Horizon 2020.
About Eurostars
Eurostars is a European innovation network that promotes cross-border R&D collaboration between small- and medium-sized companies.
The network, which is represented by Vinnova in Sweden, provides more than one billion euros in grants each year. The purpose of the grants is to promote economic growth and jobs creation.
Tags:
