Cytovation and RRP Foundation Collaborate to Advance Rare Neoplastic Disease Program

Norwegian biotech Cytovation, which is developing cancer immunotherapies, said that it is has entered a collaboration with the Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis Foundation to advance the development of CyPep-1 for the treatment of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis alongside its cancer development program.

Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) is a rare neoplastic disease that is characterized by the growth of benign tumors in the respiratory tract caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). Although they primarily occur in the larynx on and around the vocal cords, these growths may spread downward and affect the trachea, bronchi, and occasionally the lungs. Historic estimates from the RRP Taskforce have indicated an incidence among children of about 4.3 per 100,000 and among adults of about 1.8 per 100,000. Currently there are no approved treatments for RRP.

The collaboration will enable Cytovation to draw upon RRPF’s extensive knowledge and network in preparation for a phase 1/2 study to be initiated in the second half of 2022.

“For people with rare diseases like RRP, new clinical studies can help advance our understanding of the condition and potentially address the significant unmet needs faced by patients every day,” said Kim McClellan, president of RRPF. “We believe CyPep-1 has great potential and we’re excited to test its efficacy in this difficult condition.”

CyPep-1 is a proprietary first-in-class targeted tumor membrane immunotherapy engineered to selectively target tumor cells. CyPep-1 eliminates these cells by forming pores in the plasma membrane, releasing antigens to the immune system, promoting an inflammatory microenvironment, and inducing a tumor-specific immune response by in situ vaccination.

“The opportunity for CyPep-1 in this rare disease indication highlights its broad potential not just across solid cancer types, but also across neoplastic diseases in general,” said Lars Prestegarden, CEO of Cytovation. “We are very pleased to enter this new collaboration with RRPF, which will extend our clinical development plan with CyPep-1 beyond studies targeting cancers – both as a monotherapy and in combination with checkpoint inhibitors – into non-cancer neoplastic rare diseases.”

Photo: Kim McClellan, president of RRPF

Author: Rare Daily Staff