Bavituximab

Bavituximab (PGN401) is a human-mouse chimeric monoclonal antibody against phosphatidylserine, which is a component of cell membranes that is exposed when a cell is transformed into solid tumor cancer cell or dies, and when cells are infected with hepatitis C. The process of cell death is highly controlled and so there usually no immune response to phosphatidylserine but when bavituximab binds to it, the conjugate appears to stimulate an immune response in humans.'-mexi-' (melanoma): Ecromeximab§ Bavituximab (PGN401) is a human-mouse chimeric monoclonal antibody against phosphatidylserine, which is a component of cell membranes that is exposed when a cell is transformed into solid tumor cancer cell or dies, and when cells are infected with hepatitis C. The process of cell death is highly controlled and so there usually no immune response to phosphatidylserine but when bavituximab binds to it, the conjugate appears to stimulate an immune response in humans. Bavituximab was invented at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas; Peregrine Pharmaceuticals exclusively licensed intellectual property related to bavituximab from the university, including US patent 6,300,308 invented by Alan J. Schroit and US Patents 6,406,693 and 6,312,694 invented in the laboratory Philip E. Thorpe.:6 As of January 2016, bavituximab had been in a Phase III clinical trial for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), a Phase II/III trial for breast cancer, a Phase II trial for pancreatic cancer, a phase I/II trial for hepatocellular carcinoma, and Phase I clinical trials in malignant melanoma and rectal cancer; its development had been discontinued for influenza and prostate cancer. As of 2011 it had been in a Phase II trial for hepatitis C but no results had been reported as of 2016. The phase III (SUNRISE) trial for NSCLC was discontinued in early 2016 after analysis of interim results. Peregrine changed its business focus to contract manufacturing and changed its name to Avid Bioservices at the end of 2017, and in February 2018 it sold bavituximab and its other drug assets to Oncologie Inc.