PS-Targeting Antibodies as Anti-Cancer Agents

Bavituximab is a first-in-class phosphatidylserine (PS)-targeting monoclonal antibody that represents a new approach to treating cancer. PS is a highly immunosuppressive molecule usually located inside the membrane of healthy cells, but "flips" and becomes exposed on the outside of cells that line tumor blood vessels, causing the tumor to evade immune detection. Bavituximab targets PS and blocks this immunosuppressive signal, resulting in the maturation of dendritic cells and cancer- fighting (M1) macrophages leading to the development of cytotoxic T-cells that fight solid tumors. Bavituximab is the lead drug candidate from the company's PS-targeting technology platform and is currently being evaluated in several solid tumor indications, including non-small cell lung cancer, breast cancer, liver cancer and rectal cancer.

Research has shown that chemotherapy and radiation increase the exposure of PS on the surface of the tumor blood vessels, increasing the availability of bavituximab's target molecule, and potentially enhancing bavituximab's anti-tumor activity.

Click here to learn about our bavituximab oncology clinical trials.

Read more about bavituximab's anti-tumor mechanism of action...