The licensing agreement grants Kyto patent rights to the Transcobalamin (Vitamin B12) Receptor and to an additional broad group of other patents which are critical to Kyto’s research and development strategy for the treatment of cancer.
TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kyto Biopharma Inc. (“Kyto”), (OTCBB: KBPH), is pleased to announce that it has signed a licensing agreement with the Research Foundation of the State University of New York, (“RFSUNY”). The licensing agreement grants Kyto patent rights to the Transcobalamin (Vitamin B12) Receptor and to an additional broad group of other patents which are critical to Kyto’s research and development strategy for the treatment of cancer.
“Kyto is currently developing a humanized version of the mAbTCR23 antibody as it advances its candidate product towards the clinic”
Kyto Scientists have isolated and cloned the Transcobalamin Receptor which has been shown to be over expressed in various forms of cancer. The primary therapeutic approach developed by Kyto is directed at the selective targeting of the Transcobalamin Receptor in cancer cells by monoclonal antibodies. This approach intends to minimize many of the potential complications arising from current chemotherapy treatments such as acute systemic toxicity.
To date Kyto has been successful in developing specific murine monoclonal antibodies to the Transcobalamin Receptor. A candidate antibody identified as mAbTCR23, has been demonstrated to be effective in targeting cancer cells and in inhibiting cell proliferation in a number of cell lines including solid tumors and lymphoid malignancies. The conjugation of the mAbTCR23 antibody to saporin, a highly effective intracellular cytotoxic agent, did not affect the biological activity of the antibody. The mAbTCR23 &ndash Saporin conjugate demonstrated enhanced cytotoxicity in a spectrum of cancer cell lines.
The Licensing Agreement is a critical milestone for Kyto and is the culmination of over 10 years of research and development funding provided by Kyto to the State University of New York (SUNY). The SUNY group based in Brooklyn and headed by Dr. Edward Quadros and Dr. Jeffrey Sequeira has been focused on targeting the Vitamin B12 pathway for the treatment of cancer. Georges Benarroch, President and CEO of Kyto, complemented the SUNY scientists and RFSUNY for their invaluable contributions to and support of Kyto for over a decade. “Kyto is currently developing a humanized version of the mAbTCR23 antibody as it advances its candidate product towards the clinic”, stated Dr. Uri Sagman co-founder and COO of Kyto. “Efforts are also ongoing in engaging an industry partner to assist Kyto in developing our technology and in improving shareholder value”, added Dr. Sagman.
About Kyto Biopharma Inc.
Kyto Biopharma Inc. is a Florida based biotechnology company operating from Toronto, Canada, and developing monoclonal antibody therapies for the treatment of various forms of cancer. The Kyto research and development program is conducted under the scientific leadership of Dr. Edward Quadros of the State University of New York (SUNY Brooklyn), and Dr. Michael Rosenblum of the MD Anderson Cancer Centre (Houston). Kyto owns a broad portfolio of intellectual property which includes the newly discovered Transcobalamin Receptor (TCbIR). The Company intends to develop its Vitamin B12 receptor based technology and engage a suitable partner to assist with the development and commercialization of a marketable cancer therapeutic. Vitamin B12 regulates one of two major cellular pathways for the production of Folates, the cell’s primary source of carbon and the progenitor for the synthesis of DNA. The newly isolated Transcobalamin receptor is over expressed in a host of various forms of cancer cells and serves as a viable target for development of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies.
Safe Harbor
This release contains forward looking statements that reflect, among other things, management’s current expectations, plans and strategies, all of which are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Many of these risks are beyond our ability to control or predict. Please see “Risk Factors” in the Company’s public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a discussion of such risks, including the Company’s need for additional funds, the Company’s dependence on a limited number of therapeutic compounds , the stage of the products the Company is developing, uncertainties relating to clinical trials and regulatory reviews, competition and dependence on collaborative partners, the company’s ability to avoid infringement of the patent rights of others, and the company’s ability to obtain adequate patent protection and to enforce these rights. Because of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Furthermore, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are released. Kyto Biopharma does not undertake any obligation to update or review any such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
