VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 22, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Qu Biologics Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing Site Specific Immunomodulators (SSIs), a unique platform of immunotherapies designed to restore the body’s innate immune system, has identified immune factors (cytokines and growth factors) in the blood of patients with Crohn’s disease that may predict response to SSI therapy. This discovery emerged from further analysis of Qu Biologics’ recently completed Phase 2 Study in Crohn’s disease. When combined with patients’ clinical profiles, these biomarkers may identify patients likely to respond to SSI treatment. Dr. Hal Gunn, CEO of Qu Biologics, explained, “With the previously identified genetic markers correlated with SSI response in this trial, these findings mean that patients with Crohn’s disease may now be closer to having precision treatment for their condition for the first time.”
In addition, Qu Biologics’ Phase 2 randomized placebo-controlled Crohn’s disease trial results demonstrated that specific blood immune markers associated with immune activation and mucosal healing increased with SSI treatment and SSI response/remission. Dr. Shirin Kaylan, Qu Biologics’ Director of Scientific Innovation, added, “We found that SSI treatment activated specific immune pathways in people with Crohn’s disease who responded or went into remission with SSI therapy. This highlights the potential of this novel approach to treat Crohn’s disease, which restores innate immune function instead of suppressing immune activity like current treatments.” Dr. Hal Gunn, added, “In addition to blood immune biomarkers that may predict response to SSI treatment, we may have biomarkers that can be used to monitor SSI treatment response, which is very exciting.”
Qu Biologics plans to initiate a follow-on clinical trial in Crohn’s disease later in 2017 to confirm the value of these blood immune biomarkers in predicting and monitoring response to SSI therapy. Jim Pankovich, Qu Biologics’ VP Clinical Operations and Drug Development, stated, “The establishment of a biomarker assay to predict a patient’s response to treatment and to monitor treatment response could be a turning-point for patients with Crohn’s disease and their health care providers who currently have to resort to trial and error in finding effective medications for this challenging disease.”
For more information about Qu Biologics and the science behind SSIs, please visit www.qubiologics.com.
About Qu Biologics
Qu Biologics is a Vancouver-based private clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing Site Specific Immunomodulators (SSI), a novel class of immunotherapies. SSIs are designed to stimulate an innate immune response in targeted organs or tissues to reverse the chronic inflammation underlying many conditions including cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, inflammatory lung disease and arthritis. SSIs are a broad platform technology being tested in multiple disease indications, including Health Canada approved clinical trials in lung cancer, Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis.
Backed by a prestigious group of scientific advisors and board members, Qu Biologics is led by a management team that includes co-founder and CEO Dr. Hal Gunn, a physician and expert on the body’s immune response to chronic disease; and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Simon Sutcliffe, former CEO of the BC Cancer Agency and a distinguished clinician, scientist and leader in cancer control in Canada and internationally.
Qu Biologics Inc. cautions you that statements included in this press release that are not a description of historical facts may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are only predictions based upon current expectations and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of release of the relevant information, unless explicitly stated otherwise. Actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, Qu Biologics’ forward-looking statements due to the risks and uncertainties inherent in Qu Biologics’ business including, without limitation, statements about: the progress and timing of its clinical trials; difficulties or delays in development, testing, obtaining regulatory approval, producing and marketing its products; unexpected adverse side effects or inadequate therapeutic efficacy of its products that could delay or prevent product development or commercialization; the scope and validity of patent protection for its products; competition from other pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies; and its ability to obtain additional financing to support its operations. Qu Biologics does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required by law.