CureLab Oncology submits patent for COVID therapeutic ahead of Phase I clinical trials
CureLab Oncology intends to determine whether its Elenagen DNA vaccine can be used to reduce severity, mortality and life-threatening post-COVID complications
BOSTON— CureLab Oncology, a clinical-stage pre-IPO biotech company, has filed an International Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) application to cover a new anti-COVID therapeutic application of its lead product, Elenagen™, ahead of planned ex-US clinical trials. The PCT application continues CureLab’s previously submitted US provisional patent application.
Elenagen is CureLab Oncology’s experimental DNA product that so far has demonstrated exceptional safety in cancer patients and anti-inflammatory capabilities in animal models. The combination of these two factors justify anti-COVID clinical trials because both the severity of COVID and the risk of post-COVID complications are partially rooted in systemic chronic toxicity.
“So far, we received the most encouraging therapeutic data with inflammatory cancers like triple-negative breast cancer and platinum-resistant ovarian cancer,” said Alex Shneider, Ph.D., CEO of CureLab Oncology. “We cannot make predictions, but we hope that similar clinical benefits will be observed in high-risk COVID patients because all high-risk comorbidities like diabetes or hypertension are related to chronic inflammation. Also, inflammation is associated with post-COVID myocarditis and other complications prevalent in young patients who have otherwise experienced mild COVID symptoms.”
For patients who have contracted COVID, CureLab Oncology intends to determine how Elenagen can be used to reduce mortality and life-threatening complications, and to shorten time to recovery. CureLab will also test Elenagen with patients who have recovered from COVID and are no longer virus-positive but are now suffering from post-COVID complications (long COVID).
About Elenagen
CureLab’s lead investigational compound is code-named Elenagen. It is a DNA vaccine that consists of a circular piece of DNA called a plasmid that includes a gene for a human protein called p62/SQSTM1. In animal studies and Phase I/II human trials conducted ex-US, Elenagen has shown promise in reversing tumor grade, changing the tumor microenvironment, and enhancing the anti-cancer effects of chemotherapy. Experimental results indicate a mitigation of chronic inflammation and stimulation of an immune response to the tumor.
About CureLab Oncology
CureLab Oncology Inc. is a clinical-stage immuno-oncology biotech company headquartered in the greater Boston area. CureLab is dedicated to advancing new and safer therapeutics for solid tumors and other oncology and inflammatory indications. To learn more, visit curelab.com.
