OncoMune Publishes Positive Results Of OCM-8054 - Breast Cancer Dependency On BORIS Unequivocally Demonstrated By RNA Interference

Main Category: Breast Cancer
Also Included In: Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 05 Sep 2008 - 9:00 PDT

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OncoMune LLC, a biotechnology company focused on developing targeted cancer therapeutics, announced the publication of its preclinical OCM-8054 data. The publication entitled, "Selective apoptosis of breast cancer cells by siRNA targeting of BORIS," appeared in the May 23rd 2008 issue of the scientific journal, Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, Volume 370, Issue 1, Pages 109-112.

"For the first time, the essential dependency of tumors on our target, BORIS, has been unequivocally demonstrated," said Dr. Boris Reznik, Chairman of OncoMune and senior author of the publication. He continued, "The OCM-8054 candidate is an RNA interference inducing molecule that specifically blocks tumor cells from expressing BORIS. In the recent publication, we report that when the BORIS expression is suppressed, breast cancer cells die. Moreover, healthy control cells were unaffected by OCM-8054."

OncoMune focuses on targeting the epigenetic acting cancer causing transcription factor, Brother of the Regulator of Imprinted Sites (BORIS). Its target, the BORIS oncogene, is one of the few molecules that is expressed in every cancer tested to date. While OncoMune previously demonstrated that its OCM-111 candidate can induce immunological killing of glioma, leukemia, and breast cancer, the current studies demonstrate that BORIS is not just a tumor "marker" but an essential component of tumors that is strictly required for their survival.

"We were particularly surprised by the potent sensitivity of the tumor cells to the inhibition of BORIS," said Dr. Christopher Dougherty, CSO of OncoMune and primary author of the publication. "Given that killing tumor cells was achievable at picomole levels, we have confidence in the pharmaceutical applicability of the current RNA interference-based approach."

About OncoMune

OncoMune is a late preclinical stage biotechnology company that is developing potentially non-toxic, selective and targeted approaches for treating various forms of cancer. The lead vaccine candidate, OCM-111, has demonstrated efficacy in a series of in-vivo experiments and is currently undergoing IND enabling studies for early 2009 clinical trials. Other therapeutic candidates are in different stages of preclinical development. By pioneering the development of multiple vaccines, siRNA and small molecule drugs against the epigenetic cancer-causing transcription factor, BORIS, OncoMune is poised to become a leading player in the rapidly growing field of targeted cancer therapeutics.

OncoMune