Soricimed Publishes New Research Validating TRPV6 as a Therapeutic Target for Ovarian Cancer


MONCTON, New Brunswick, Oct. 31, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Soricimed Biopharma Inc. ("Soricimed"), a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company discovering and developing targeted cancer therapeutics, is pleased to announce the peer reviewed publication of new results from its anti-cancer research program in the Journal of Cancer.

In this manuscript entitled “Inhibition of Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 6 Channel (TRPV6), Elevated in Human Ovarian Cancers, Reduces Tumor Growth in a Xenograft Model” (Journal of Cancer 2018; 9(17): 3196-3207. doi: 10.7150/jca.20639), we provide further support for the importance of TRPV6 in ovarian cancer. This calcium channel is the target for Soricimed’s anti-cancer drug candidates and in this paper, we show that the genetic message (mRNA) for TRPV6 protein and TRPV6 protein itself are greatly elevated in biopsies of all 5 types of ovarian cancer, at all stages. This is consistent with what has been reported for other solid tumor cancers such as prostate and breast. We also show targeting TRPV6 with our lead drug candidate SOR-C13 inhibits ovarian tumor growth in animal models. The conclusion from this work is that TRPV6 is a relevant therapeutic target for this difficult to treat disease.

Corresponding author Professor Jack Stewart, co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Soricimed, stated “The role of TRPV6 in prostate and breast cancers is well documented since it was first noted in 2002. TRPV6’s role in ovarian cancers that we report in this publication hadn’t been studied extensively until now.  It is difficult to introduce a new cancer target to the oncology community but, in this case, the weight of evidence makes it quite clear that TRPV6 plays a key role in cancer pathogenesis In addition, new data coming out indicates that ductal pancreatic cancer has also joined the TRPV6-rich cancer group.”

About The Journal of Cancer: The Journal of Cancer is a peer-reviewed journal publishing papers of high quality in all areas of cancer related fields, especially novel concepts, new methods, new regimens, new therapeutic agents, and alternative approaches for early detection and intervention of cancer. A copy of this paper is available for download from the Journal of Cancer using the following link: http://www.jcancer.org/v09p3196.pdf

About Soricimed Biopharma:  Soricimed Biopharma Inc. is a private Canadian clinical-stage company developing novel cancer therapeutics and diagnostics. Soricimed’s drug candidates have demonstrated a capability to reduce cancer cell viability, induce apoptosis and to reduce human tumour volume while minimizing side effects in classic animal and in vitro tumour models. Soricimed recently announced positive results indicating safety, tolerability and potential activity in a multi-centre Phase I trial of SOR-C13 in subjects with advanced solid tumour cancers.  Additionally, SOR-C13 has been granted orphan drug status by the US FDA for treatment of ovarian cancer and for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. Privately held, Soricimed is funded through private investors and various programs from the Governments of Canada and New Brunswick. For more information please visit, www.soricimed.com

For More Information:
Paul Gunn, President & CEO
Soricimed Biopharma Inc.
pgunn@soricimed.com
506-856-0400