Training the immune system to fight a unique marker of B-cell lymphoma, with the hope of treating the cancer without chemotherapy, has netted a California biopharmaceutical company more than $1 million in preclinical investment.
Bullet Biotechnology’s active immunotherapy is directed at a specific idotype protein expressed on B-cells. It uses directed conjugation to attach copies of this “Id” along with multiple immune stimulants to the outside of a virus-like particle, so the body learns to recognize the protein as a virus and respond appropriately.
According to a securities filing, the company has raised $1.4 million and could raise up to $360K more. CEO Willie Quinn said the company expects to be ready for clinical trials in early 2015.
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“Our vision is a world where patients have better options than the historical Hobson’s choice of chemotherapy or no treatment,” he said. “This vision is already starting to come true with targeted cancer therapies, and we believe our personalized immunotherapy can play an important role in this future world.”
Bullet hopes BB-001 will be safe enough to be given to asymptomatic patients — since a lymphoma diagnosis usually occurs before symptoms present — but powerful enough to change the course of their disease. The company says it can make its personalized, active immunotherapy at about the same cost as other biologics. Currently approved biologics for lymphoma include Rituximab (Genentech), Ibritumomab tiuxetan (Spectrum Pharmaceuticals) and Tositumomab (GSK), which are part of a larger lymphoma drug market expected to double between 2011 and 2019.
Formed in 2011, Bullet Biotechnology is based in Menlo Park, California.
[Image source: Flickr user Ed Uthman]