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(This article republished with the kind permission of S&P Global)
US biotechnology company CureLab Veterinary is seeking its next investors and collaborative partners to advance its lead animal health asset.
The Boston, Massachusetts-based firm and its sister business CureLab Oncology are working with plasmid encoding gene p62/SQSTM1 to develop anti-cancer vaccines for both humans and animals. In humans, CureLab’s lead asset is known as Elenagen, while its candidate for animal health is called ElenaVet – both were named after the wife of the companies’ founder and lead inventor Alexander Shneider.c
Dr Shneider’s early career saw him work as part of a group pioneering development of DNA vaccines. He said the foundations of CureLab started with an idea that was deemed insignificant but later led to a huge discovery, of which “only the tip of the iceberg” is still appreciated.
He told S&P Global Animal Health: “The idea was to create a classic anti-cancer DNA vaccine. An anti-cancer DNA vaccine is something that elicits an adaptive immune response against an antigen specifically expressed in a tumor and not expressed at the same level anywhere else. The best antigen target is a protein called p62 because it is overly expressed in cancer cells. If a tumor stops expressing p62, it will become super sensitive to all sorts of treatments – chemotherapy, radiation or immunotherapy.”
CureLab initially tested its technology with success in mouse models, with the work still actively cited. A few years ago, the firm moved to trialling the technology in 11 dogs with mammary cancer, saving 10 of the animals. Dr Shneider noted the vaccine has also been found to have an impact on other common types of canine cancer. Although the findings are yet to be officially published, CureLab discovered the candidate has an effect on the metastatic process of oral melanoma in dogs and – while not as dramatic – a significant effect in cats.
Dr Shneider said: “Then, the true science started revealing itself. We started looking at tumors and found when we treat canine cancers with our product, it reverts tumor grade. That could not be explained with a classic model of an anti-cancer vaccine, so something else was going on. We looked at histology and saw that cancer cells were arrested in newly formed surroundings of non-cancerous tissue. We realized we had changed the entire tumor micro-environment so lymphocytes from the body were able to penetrate the tumor.
“In the 1950s, we could already measure how rapidly cells are divided but we couldn’t do neat cellular and molecular immunology. So, we invented a false concept of chemotherapy. I believe that concept belongs in the garbage can of history. Why? Because most so-called chemotherapeutic agents are, in reality, chemo-induced immune therapies. Now, when we can measure not only how rapidly cells divide but also measure various immune reactions, we see chemotherapeutic modalities stimulate an immune response in all sorts of ways. What is the biggest problem with chemotherapy, radiation and immunotherapies? The biggest problem is so called ‘cold’ tumors. We have all sorts of methods to elicit a great number of anti-cancer lymphocytes in the body, circulating outside of the tumor. But what is the benefit if they cannot enter the tumor and become tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes?
“Our product changes the environment so lymphocytes can become tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. Also, metastatic cells cannot exit the tumor and the metastatic process, although not prevented, is reduced. There are multiple elements to this. One of them is the extra-cellular matrixes and there are different components to their formation. Our product changes the extra-cellular matrixes and allows lymphocytes to use these pathways to penetrate the tumor, simultaneously making it less convenient for metastatic cells.”
In animal health, CureLab is focused on dogs, cats and horses. Its lead disease target is mammary cancer, expected to be followed by other cancers. Dr Shneider pointed out the key factors of CureLab’s technology are its ability to change the tumor microenvironment, increase lymphocytes’ ability to penetrate the tumor and remain active, and reduce chronic inflammation. The latter aspect means the company ultimately has other diseases in its sight.
Dr Shneider said: “Our product systemically controls chronic inflammation in humans and animals. We have published papers demonstrating in animal models efficacy against a diverse range of diseases where chronic inflammation is the common cause, ranging from joint and bone diseases to metabolic syndrome and age-associated cognitive decline. There are some special cells in the body replenishing pools of ‘worn out’ cells in organs – mesenchymal stem cells. Unfortunately, as an organism gets older, these cells stop working properly. In young individuals, mesenchymal stem cells have anti-inflammatory actions. When individuals get older, that stops and the cells can have a pro-inflammatory influence and instead of propagating into normal bone cells, for example, fill bones with fat cells. Our product influences mesenchymal stem cells and other inflammation-weighted cells to restore their anti-inflammatory healthy phenotype.
“Although it is too early to discuss at length, our next-in-line diseases to approach include osteoarthritis, inflammatory bowel disease in dogs, autoimmune conditions and many other diseases of chronic inflammation. So far, pet owners say a side effect of our treatment in trials is that pets act younger. Usually, anti-cancer therapies are pretty detrimental with a poor quality of life. With us, it’s the opposite.”
Dr Shneider has over 25 years of biotechnology experience and is currently a senior research fellow of molecular biology at the University of Ariel in Israel. His expertise spans drug development from concept to market authorization, registration of patents in major jurisdictions, acting in an advisory role for exits, consulting for multinational companies, establishing and leading international R&D consortia, and authoring numerous papers and books.
CureLab Veterinary president Dr Robert Devlin started his career as a practicing veterinarian before transitioning to business development in executive director and vice president of marketing roles in animal health, for companies including VetCentric and Vets Plus. Meanwhile, CureLab’s vice president of R&D Vlad Gabai has over 30 years of discovery and development experience, alongside problem-solving skills in the development of anti-cancer drugs. In the past he has held academic appointments with Boston University and the Boston Biomedical Research Institute.
CureLab Veterinary was formed in 2021. The business has been backed by $3m from John Ballantyne – co-founder of biotechnology firm Aldevron, which was acquired by Danaher for $9.6 billion also in 2021. Mr Ballantyne stepped down as chief science officer of the firm following finalization of the transaction, to pursue other interests. Aldevron was previously manufacturing CureLab’s products./p>
CureLab is now looking to build on its initial funding and is open to a variety of discussions with partners interested in collaborating with the firm.
Dr Shneider said: “We are looking for additional investors to go for an expanded scope of diseases. We are also open to out-licensing and strategic partners. On one hand, we are self-sustainable. On the other, further investment opportunities would help us accelerate.”
