recombinant alpha-fetoprotein (ACT-101) / Alpha Cancer Technologies - LARVOL DELTA

Generation of two human induced pluripotent stem cell lines (ABi001-A and ABi002-A) from cone dystrophy with supernormal rod response patients caused by KCNV2 mutation. (PubMed, Stem Cell Res) - "PBMCs from donors have been reprogrammed into iPSC lines. Derived clones were characterized with mutation sequencing, analysis of common pluripotency-associated markers at the protein levels, and in vitro differentiation studies."

Journal • Preclinical • Achromatopsia • Retinal Disorders

High anti-tumor activity of a novel alpha-fetoprotein-maytansinoid conjugate targeting alpha-fetoprotein receptors in colorectal cancer xenograft model. (PubMed, Cancer Cell Int) - "Studies were performed to investigate the use of recombinant human AFP (ACT-101) conjugated with maytansinoid toxins for targeted toxin delivery to cancer. No obvious signs of toxicity were seen in any of the treated groups. Observed efficacy and excellent tolerability of ACT-903 in these xenograft models support advancing the development of ACT-903 toward clinical use."

Journal • Preclinical • Colorectal Cancer • Gastrointestinal Cancer • Oncology • Solid Tumor • AFP

Alpha Cancer Technologies (ACT) Publishes Pre-Clinical Study Results in Cancer Cell International Demonstrating Excellent Safety and Significant Anti-Tumor Activity from the Company’s Next Generation ADC, ACT-903 (Businesswire) - "Alpha Cancer Technologies...announced the publication of pre-clinical study results in Cancer Cell International highlighting the company’s recombinant human AFP (ACT-101) conjugate with maytansine in mouse xenograft models of colorectal cancer. Results from the study demonstrate the exceptional safety profile and potent anti-tumor activity of multiple ACT-101 conjugates through the successful targeting of the alpha fetoprotein receptor uniquely located on cancerous cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs)....The anti-tumor effects of the conjugate selected for further development, ACT-903, persisted after treatment discontinuation, with tumors becoming undetectable in 9 of 10 mice, and all 10 mice surviving through Day 60 with no obvious signs of toxicity."

Preclinical • Colorectal Cancer • Gastrointestinal Cancer • Oncology • Solid Tumor

An alpha-fetoprotein-maytansine conjugate for the treatment of AFP receptor expressing tumors. (ASCO 2022) - "By conjugating a novel maytansinoid toxin to a recombinant form of human AFP (ACT-101), we can selectively deliver the toxin to cancer and MDSC cells while sparing normal cells, thereby enabling a combination of targeted and immune activating approaches against the tumor. The efficacy and tolerability of ACT-903 in an animal tumor model supports advancing this conjugate toward clinical use with a regimen of either once a week or once every other week administration."

Oncology • AFP

Episode 2: Screening Vs Diagnosis: Assessing Liver Function (OncLive) - "Richard S. Finn, MD: Alpha-fetoprotein [AFP] has been around for a long time, right? How do you approach the use of AFP in diagnosing patients with liver cancer? Pierre Gholam, MD: As an AFP enthusiast, we have had a love-hate relationship with AFP in the hepatology field. AFP was, at first, an established end point, a requisite end point in our surveillance strategies endorsed by all societies. Circa 2010 we realized that AFP by itself does not add much in terms of sensitivity and specificity. In fact, the US hepatology society, AASLD [American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases], dropped it from its guidelines for a while. Clearly, AFP has now been established to be of value in terms of determining prognosis."

Interview • Video

Generation and characterization of the human iPSC line CABi001-A from a patient with retinitis pigmentosa caused by a novel mutation in PRPF31 gene. (PubMed, Stem Cell Res) - "A blood sample was obtained and mononuclear cells were reprogrammed using the non-integrative Sendai virus to generate the cell line CABi001-A. The iPSC line has been characterized for pluripotency and differentiation capacity and will be differentiated toward photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium cells to study the molecular mechanism of the disease and test possible therapeutic strategies."

Clinical • Journal