MultiCell Technologies Files Novel Antibody-Drug Conjugate Patent Application

WOONSOCKET, R.I., Dec. 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- MultiCell Technologies, Inc. (OTC: MCET) has filed a U.S. patent application covering the design and therapeutic use of novel, next-generation antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) which provide for the simultaneous targeted delivery of multiple drugs from a single antibody. 

Cancer therapy often results in the patient becoming very sick due to toxicity and off-target effects of certain drugs used to treat patients.  ADCs take advantage of the target specificity of a monoclonal antibody to deliver a potent cytotoxic compound selectively to just the targeted tumor cells, thus improving the drug's therapeutic safety window by decreasing the likelihood of adverse off-target effects.  As a result of decreasing off-target effects, overall patient experience and patient outcomes are improved.

This patent application describes compositions-of-matter, a multivalent biodegradable linker and tether to attach drugs to the antibody or other targeting agents, and the therapeutic use of such drug conjugates to treat cancer and other diseases.  These unique ADCs are designed to release drugs in their native form via biodegradation of the novel cleavable, multi-valent linker and tether after the ADC enters the cell. 

This multivalent drug delivery platform allows for the simultaneous targeted delivery of synergistic drugs as well as other drug-drug combinations to patients.  Drugs are considered synergistic when the action of one drug enhances the effectiveness of the other drug.  Such a unique targeted co-delivery capability enables the simultaneous localization of both drugs within the target cell where they exert their biological effect and helps to minimize adverse off-target effects.

This novel co-delivery capability also allows drug developers to make ADCs using a broader range of therapeutic agents such as RNA, DNA, chemotherapeutic agents, small molecule therapeutics, and biomolecules.  This method of drug delivery could also eliminate the need to infuse patients with two different drugs using co-formulated products or separate i.v. administrations of a single formulated drug product.  Adcetris® (Brentuximab vedotin), developed and marketed by Seattle Genetics, and Kadcyla® (Trastuzumab emtansine), developed and marketed by Genentech/Roche, are two FDA-approved antibody-drug conjugate therapies used for the treatment of certain cancers.

"We are very excited about this novel, enabling antibody-drug conjugate technology that we intend to use for the targeted delivery of MCT-485 as well as other drugs", said W. Gerald Newmin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of MultiCell Technologies.  "We also plan to explore other therapeutic indications, other drug combinations, and to aggressively seek partnerships with larger pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies who are interested in using ADC technology to help facilitate the targeted delivery of their drugs", stated Mr. Newmin.

MultiCell is evaluating MCT-485, is a very small noncoding double stranded RNA drug candidate in animal models of hepatocellular carcinoma.  Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common form of primary liver cancer, and is a leading cause of cancer death worldwide.  Over 1 million cases of hepatocellular carcinoma are reported annually.  Current approaches for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma are of limited efficacy.  MCT-485, possessing both oncolytic and immune activating properties, could be superior to currently marketed therapies by providing a more robust activation of immunity, and a more global and longer lasting anti-tumor effect.  Additionally, due to its unique mechanism of action, MCT-485 could prove effective in killing other types of cancers.  MultiCell plans to initiate similar studies in relevant in vitro and animal models for other major cancers.

About MCT-485

MultiCell Technologies' MCT-485 is a very small noncoding double stranded RNA, and the first of a family of prospective cancer therapeutics.  MultiCell owns rights to several issued U.S. and foreign patents and patent applications related to MCT-485 and other prospective RNA therapeutic candidates.

About MultiCell Technologies, Inc.

MultiCell Technologies, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics and discovery tools for the treatment of neurological disorders, hepatic disease and cancer.  For more information about MultiCell Technologies, please visit http://www.multicelltech.com.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Any statements in this press release about MultiCell's expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not historical facts and are forward-looking statements for purposes of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act").  These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as "believe", "will", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "intend", "plan", "forecast", "could", and "would". MultiCell bases these forward- looking statements on current expectations about future events.  They involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions that may cause actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statement.  Some of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from estimates or projections in the forward-looking statement include, but are not limited to, the risk that we might not achieve our anticipated clinical development milestones, receive regulatory approval, or successfully commercialize our products as expected, the market for our products will not grow as expected, and the risk that our products will not achieve expectations.  For additional information about risks and uncertainties MultiCell faces, see documents that MultiCell files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including MultiCell's report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2013, and all of MultiCell's quarterly and other periodic SEC filings.  MultiCell claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements under the Act and assumes no obligation and expressly disclaims any duty to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news release or to reflect the occurrence of subsequent events.

Adcetris® is a registered trademark of Seattle Genetics, Inc.
Kadcyla® is a registered trademark of Genentech, Inc. and F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG

SOURCE MultiCell Technologies, Inc.